The Saumur Champigny Terres Chaudes Rouge is a red wine from the controlled designation of origin of the Loire Valley. It is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown on a clay-limestone soil.

Tasting
The Saumur Champigny Terres Chaudes Rouge has aromas of red fruits and spices, with a hint of licorice. It is structured with ample and fleshy tannins. This wine goes perfectly with red meats, saucy dishes, and aged cheeses.

Terroir and Winemaking
Domaine des Roches Neuves practices organic farming to cultivate its vines, which is beneficial for the environment and biodiversity. The grapes are harvested by hand before being rigorously sorted. The winemaking process takes place traditionally with prolonged maceration and aging in tanks and oak barrels for several months. This method produces a powerful and elegant wine that reflects the richness of its terroir.

In the vineyard :
Surface: 1,57 Ha

Exposure: Lower slopes/Multiple exposures

Soil Type: Clay/Limestone

Grape variety: Chardonnay

Size Mode: Single Guyot /Poussard

Growing method: FR-BIO-01 organic certified

Soil cultivation: Straddle ploughing

Harvest: Manual

Year of planting: 1960/1976/1982/1986/2012

Grown on 3 hectares facing south, this white Mercurey is a subtle blend of grapes harvested from several parcels thriving on clay-limestone soils, including Les Montots and Bussière. Exceptionally light, supple and fragrant, it offers a less mineral but equally subtle tasting experience than our Clos Rochette.

VINEYARD
Area : 3 ha 03 [7,49 Acres]
Planting years : 1984, 1988, 1991, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022

TASTING
Elegant aromas of fruit and flowers prevail on the nose. It is well balanced and pleasantly fresh on the palate. A pleasant wine best enjoyed chilled as an aperitif or with a meal.

WINE MAKING

Fruit was sourced from three sites in the Wairau Valley.  60% of Clones 95 and 40% of Mendoza were used.  No sulphur was added to the juices at the point of extraction which then were fermented spontaneously in a combination of seasoned French oak (90%) and stainless steel (10%).  

TASTE

Aromatics of ripe yellow citrus, nectarine and brioche.  A finely textured palate with an array of flavours from Meyer lemon to stone fruits with a lively acid to savour.

FOOD MATCH

All kinds of soft cheeses, white meats and rich seafood such as koura (crayfish) and smoked warehou.  

ACID: 6.5 g/l
pH: 3.48
ALC: 13.0%

A lovely ripeness and aromatic impact, scents of fresh quince and pear then apple and fruit spices. Youthful, vibrant and enticing. On the palate a dry wine with flavours of pomaceous fruits framed by lees and mineral qualities, there’s youthful tautness that gives a palate squeeze and crunch. Salivating, lengthy and well made, a reflection of vintage and excellent wine making. Best drinking from day of purchase through 2028.

93 Points Excellent
Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier

Aromatic Pinot Gris is a real treat when it’s as dry and fresh as this vibrant, young white from Blue Earth Estate in Te Muna Valley. All grapes were hand picked and the wine was fermented to less than 1 gram of residual sugar, which makes it absolutely bone dry in taste and style. Flavours of white pears, fresh crisp red apples and a little citrus all run through each sip. Drinks well now and can hold for a further three to four years, evolving in that time but it’s made to enjoy now, so why wait? Joelle Thomson

"Once upon a time, a bee (or two) went from the flowers of a Cabernet Franc vine to the flowers of a Sauvignon Blanc vine, and a seedling child began to ripen inside the mother grapes. Then came war, and the vineyard was abandoned. Years later, the vintner returned to his land and found a new vine. He tasted the grapes and fell in love. It was Cabernet Sauvignon. Our allegory of the vines as animals gives a whimsical rendering of the story. The fox - Cabernet Franc - has attributes of Cardinal Richelieu, the first famous lover of the said grape. The siren - part woman, part bird - represents Sauvignon Blanc in all her savage glory. On the right, their
child - Cabernet Sauvignon- is depicted as a world traveller, adventuring from the French Pyrenees to the Catena Zapata pyramid, at the foothills of the Andes, in Argentina."

James Suckling 96 points

Vinification

Our Estate grown grapes are hand harvested, then whole bunch pressed gently over several hours. The must settled overnight before being racked off gross solids taking only fluffy lees. Fermentation is allowed to proceed slowly at low temperature and stopped when the sugar, acid, alcohol and phenolics are in balance. We hold the wine at a cool temp for the remainder of it’s time in the cellar to retain its natural co2 spritz from primary ferment. The wine is racked and spends 6 months on fine lees before bottling.

Wine

Pale green gold and silver streaks. Delicate notes of apple blossom, honeysuckle, mandarin zest with mineral undertones.On the palate - lime oil, fleshy stone fruits, ripe red delicious and tangerine peel. Bright acidity gives the palate freshness and is balanced with generous fruit sweetness. These aspects are accentuated by the natural spritz retained from fermentation which give a lift in the midpalate. The reprise is long and lingering with a satisfyingly crisp clensing texture.

Tech

Parcel 1: Picked 31/03/23 pH: 2.96 TA: 9.20 Brix: 20.5

Parcel 1: Picked 04/04/23 pH: 2.92 TA: 9.20 Brix: 21.7

Final Wine: Bottled 28/03/24 pH: 2.86 TA: 8.17 Alc: 10.3% RS 27.8g/L

Bouquet: Bright and vibrant with ripe fruits, primarily dark plums and blackcurrants, with a hint of raspberry coulis and coffee mocha oak.

Palate: Rich blackcurrant and raspberries. Crisp, clean acidity and delightful tannin structure leading to a lingering finish.

About the winery...

Six generations have nurtured some of the most historic vineyards in Australia.
In 1839 William Formby arrived in Australia from the United Kingdom and it was in 1882, after four decades pioneering South Australia, he purchased the now historic Metala estate.

In 1891 William and his son, Arthur, planted 21 rows of Shiraz, and 14 rows of
what are now the oldest family-owned Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the world.
In 1894 a further 5.4 acres of Shiraz were planted. After almost five decades making Metala wine in a purpose-built winery on the estate, the winemaking was transferred to Arthur’s Brother-in-Law, at Stonyfell Cellars. The wines continued to be made here until management shifted to various holdings beginning with Dalgety Wine Estate in the early 1970’s.

In 1981, 5th Generation Guy Adams took over the management of the mixed farm estate. With a sincere appreciation and respect of viticulture and to family legacy, Guy, together with his wife Liz, began a 20-year long battle to return Metala to its original home. In 2022 the dream became a reality and Metala came home to Langhorne Creek and the family who planted and have nurtured the vines for more than 130 years.

Bouquet: Dark fruits, blackberries and plums. Notes of eucalyptus and menthol. 

Palate: Elegant and complex with ripe plums, blackcurrant and a touch of spice. Hints of clove and anise leading into fine tannins and a long, persistent finish.

Grapes for this wine were carefully hand-harvested and sorted. Most of the fruit comes from Paarl, but we added a small amount of Franschhoek fruit to the final blend to give it a bit of spice and ‘edge’. Naturally fermented in stainless steel tanks, 50% of this blend then undergoes malolactic fermentation in 300 and 600 litre French oak barrels (10% of which are new).

Inviting aromas of summer pudding, ripe black cherry, vanilla, and even a touch of Framboise. On the palate, more rich black fruits, smoky notes and a suggestion of dark chocolate and star anise. Youthful acidity and ripe balanced tannins give a fresh finish with depth and complexity.

Braai (South African BBQ) is the most obvious choice but this is a really versatile wine that works well with most meats, mushrooms dishes or just on its own.

Grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Franc

Tasting notes:

Deep red colour with ruby highlights. Expressive nose full of red berry aromas (strawberry, raspberry) as well as cocoa notes when agitated. Harmonious, with ripe fruit flavours (blackberry jam) and rich in soft tannins. Long and smooth finish.

Winemaking: Traditional winemaking methods with a minimum of 6 months of ageing in French and American oak barrels. De-stalked grapes – Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in vats. Regular rackings (every 3 months) and fining before bottling.

Soil: Limestone covered by clay, sand or gravel.

Climate: Oceanic, mild and humid.

Aging: 6 months of ageing in American oak barrels (of which 50% new)

Food matches: Duck breast “Vigneronne”, medallion of Monkfish in a St Emilion sauce.