Domaine des Roches Neuves: Thierry Germain
When Thierry Germain (pictured) started out at Domaine des Roches Neuves in 1991 he had just 14 hectares to his name, and what could perhaps only be described as a Bordeaux mentality. This latter aspect of his character was soon to change, but before dealing with that I first wish to examine how the vineyard has grown since Thierry’s purchase, as in the time since he first took control here more than two decades ago Thierry has overseen a significant expansion. When I first met Thierry, which was not so many years after he had purchased the domaine (when he was young and fresh-faced, before the beard appeared), he already had 22 hectares to work.
Today he has closer to 28 hectares, and some recent purchases of small but very significant parcels have contributed to this expansion. Early on he acquired a parcel of 75-year old vines which were the basis for his first white cuvée, L’Insolite, but more recent acquisitions include the Clos de l’Echelier (first vintage 2012) and the Clos Romans (first vintage 2011); the latter, Clos Romans, is perhaps the most remarkable, both in terms of the work undertaken, but also the striking quality of the wine he makes here. He acquired these vines in 2007, the delay in producing his first vintage was down to him having first decided to replant the clos, at a very high density of 10,000 vines per hectare, not with Cabernet Franc but with Chenin Blanc.
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