Domaine Aux Moines - Savennières Roche aux Moines 2024
On the heights of Savennières, facing the Loire, Domaine aux Moines occupies one of the most prestigious terroirs of Anjou, whose winemaking history dates back to the 12th century and the first plantings by the monks of the Saint-Nicolas abbey. Taken over by the Laroche family in 1981, this historic vineyard is now managed by Tessa Laroche, who has gradually imposed her personal vision of Chenin and contributed to the qualitative renewal of the appellation. Its twelve hectares of vines, grouped around the property at the top of the Roche aux Moines hillside, benefit from a privileged south and southwest exposure. Beneath a thin layer of soil lie formations of sandy schists, purple schists, and rhyolite, whose geological diversity contributes to the uniqueness of the wines. Cultivated organically, with practices inspired by biodynamics, the vineyard receives particular attention to soil life and the natural balance of the vines. Tessa Laroche favors a patient and minimally interventionist approach, convinced that the great Chenins of Savennières owe their personality as much to their origin as to the time necessary for their development. Her wines are distinguished today by their precision, depth, and the mineral energy that characterizes the finest expressions of Roche aux Moines.
The Savennières Roche aux Moines 2024 comes from about ten hectares of old Chenin vines, averaging 45 years old, planted on the schistous slopes of this exclusive appellation. Unlike the Berceau des Fées, made from the estate’s younger plantings, this cuvée represents the historical heart of Tessa Laroche’s production and expresses the full depth of its plant heritage. The grapes are hand-harvested, then gently pressed before fermentation driven by indigenous yeasts, without seeking superfluous oenological effects. Aging continues for twelve months in barrels and large casks, whose measured use supports the wine’s structure without masking its identity. The 2024 vintage, marked in the Loire Valley by demanding climatic conditions and particularly low yields, required great precision in choosing harvest dates. This relatively cool year favored Chenins with pronounced acidity, whose natural concentration is accompanied by remarkable liveliness. The result is a Roche aux Moines with a particularly sculpted profile, where the fruit’s density finds balance in an almost crystalline tension, revealing a very promising aging potential.
Domaine aux Moines Roche aux Moines 2024 opens on a delicate aromatic register, blending fresh pear, quince, citrus zest, and white flowers, extended by fine notes of lemongrass and gunflint. With aeration, hints of fresh hazelnut and light smoke appear, discreetly imparted by the aging. The attack has the characteristic frankness of great schist Chenins before giving way to a broad, finely textured body whose richness is constantly held by vibrant acidity. The palate advances with great precision, combining the ripeness of white fruits with a saline framework and subtle bitterness that enhance the sense of depth. The finish, long and persistent, maintains remarkable freshness and an almost stony dimension, promising a complex evolution over the years. This great Loire white deserves a place at the table, especially alongside roasted scallops, pike-perch with beurre blanc, Bresse poultry with cream, or veal sweetbreads accompanied by mushrooms. Still young, it will benefit from being opened in advance or lightly decanted, but a few years in the cellar will allow it to develop those waxy, dried fruit, and gentle spice nuances that mark the nobility of great mature Savennières.
Grape variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
