Domaine de Rocheville is Philippe Porché's dream realized: a wine enthusiast who, at age 10, moved from Vendée to near Saumur and fell captivated by the Loire's stunning landscapes. After selling his business over a decade ago, he searched for years until finding his first vineyard acres in 2004 on Parnay's hillside—the historical cradle of Chenin Blanc. With his wife Agnès and young winemaker Jérôme Callet, he produced the estate's first vintage in 2005, becoming one of the newest estates in Saumur-Champigny despite vines averaging 30 years old. The domaine earned Terra Vitis certification in 2011, built a contemporary winery in 2013 (which received the coveted "Cave d'Excellence" designation within 15 months), and achieved organic certification in 2019 after 15 years of eco-responsible viticulture. Operating 16 hectares on exceptional clay-limestone terroirs, Rocheville produces Saumur Blanc, Saumur Champigny, Rosé, and Crémant de Loire, won Grand Prix d'Or des Trophées de l'Œnotourisme in 2020, and now welcomes visitors to its medieval-inspired farmhouse with panoramic views of the Loire Valley.
2021 Domaine du Rocheville "Les Hauts de Bourreau" is a limited-edition Saumur-Champigny Rouge from the Loire Valley, crafted exclusively from 100% Cabernet Franc old vines (30-35 years average) grown on the historic Parnay plateau. This exceptional wine represents winemaking innovation: it's aged for nearly one year in 225-liter œufs de grès de Limoges (stoneware eggs from Limoges), where the egg's ovoid shape creates a natural vortex promoting micro-oxygenation without oak influence. The result is silky, elegant Cabernet Franc with velvety texture, pure red fruit, floral notes, and chalky Loire minerality—delivered in just 1,165 numbered bottles, making it the domaine's most exclusive cuvée. The 2021 vintage showcases classic Loire elegance: fresh, vibrant, with fine-grained tannins, crisp acidity, and a saline edge characteristic of the appellation's tuffeau limestone terroir.
Why You'll Love It
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Innovative egg-aged elegance: The stoneware egg elevates this Cabernet Franc without oak, delivering velvety texture and pure fruit expression that stands apart from traditional barrel-aged Loire reds
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Limited-edition exclusivity: Only 1,165 numbered bottles exist worldwide, making this one of Rocheville's most sought-after cuvées and a true collector's find
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Organic heritage old vines: Grown on 30-35-year-old vines on Parnay's historic tuffeau limestone terroir, with 15 years of eco-responsible farming earning organic certification in 2019
How To Serve It
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Optimal temperature: Serve at 57-63°F to showcase the wine's fresh acidity and delicate red fruit aromas
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Perfect pairings: Match with white meat in sauce (fricassée de volaille aux cèpes), cow dairy cheeses like Brie de Melun, roast veal, or lamb gigot to complement its velvety texture
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Drinking window: Ready to drink now and best within 5 years from vintage—no extended decanting needed; enjoy within 1-2 hours of opening
