Thierry Germain - Saumur Champigny 'La Marginale' Red 2019
Red
2019
Loire Valley
Saumur-Champigny
Cabernet Franc
Biodynamic
Tasting Notes & Ratings
Grape
Cabernet Franc (100%)
Tasting notes
An elegant and expressive Cabernet Franc, offering a vibrant bouquet of ripe black cherry, red currant, plum, and crushed violets. Subtle notes of graphite, pepper, and dried herbs add depth and complexity. On the palate, it is silky and precise, with juicy red and black fruit, fine-grained tannins, and refreshing acidity. A mineral undertone and savory spice carry through to a long, refined finish - capturing both the energy of biodynamic farming and the finesse of the Saumur terroir.
Expert Ratings
Vinous: 92 points
Wine Spectator: 93 points
"Vivid, with a lovely beam of cassis and dark cherry puree racing through, flanked by hints of graphite and alder and scored by flashes of bay, olive and sweet tobacco through the finish. A Loire red lover's dream."
More About The Winery
Originally from Bordeaux, Thierry Germain moved to the Loire Valley in the early 1990s and quickly became one of the region’s most visionary winemakers. Today, his domaine, Roches Neuves, is considered a benchmark in Saumur-Champigny, producing wines of remarkable purity, precision, and energy.
Since converting fully to biodynamic viticulture in 2000, Thierry Germain has focused on revealing the individuality of each terroir through meticulous vineyard work and minimal intervention in the cellar. His wines, based primarily on Cabernet Franc for reds and Chenin Blanc for whites, are celebrated for their vibrant fruit, elegance, and terroir expression, offering both early drinking pleasure and age-worthiness.
From the supple and approachable Saumur-Champigny cuvées to the profound single-vineyard bottlings such as Les Mémoires and Clos de l’Echelier, Thierry Germain crafts wines that rank among the most exciting in the Loire — often compared to the greats of Burgundy for their finesse and complexity.