Domaine des Roches Neuves (Thierry Germain)

Clos de L'Échelier Dampierre Sur Loire Saumur Chenin Blanc

9.248 ratings
9.316 pro ratings
Saumur, Anjou-Saumur, Loire Valley, France
Chenin Blanc
Turkey, Vanilla & Caramel, Fruit & Berries, Exotic Spices, Salads & Greens, Pate, Potato, Tomato-Based, Chicken, Fruit Desserts, Quinoa, Farro, Brown Rice, White Rice, Pasta, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Pungent Cheese, Squash & Root Vegetables, Goat & Feta Cheese, Cheddar & Gruyere, Sweet Potato, Yuca, Taro, Baking Spices, Chili & Hot Spicy, Nuts & Seeds, Soft Cheese, Salami & Prosciutto, Shellfish, Crab & Lobster, Quinoa, Shellfish, Sweet Potato
Top Notes For
Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

Great bottle of Chenin. Wool, yellow plum, lemon rind.

Great bottle of Chenin. Wool, yellow plum, lemon rind.

May 4th, 2024
Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Oh man! Big woolly Chenin nose. Wow. Electric Kool Aid with wool electric cut. Wow. A mammoth electrified. Some almonds, Meyer lemon as well. Super refined and elegant nose. So clean. Wow. Just Rieslingesque Chenin. Palate is immaculate. Perfect texture, balance and lithe concentration and almost a tannic impression on the back end. So sappy and pure. Brilliant finesse. Wow. This is drop dead. Super wine. Wow. Has 10+ years to go. Super lemony and no lack of acid. Long long finish. Dynamite.

Oh man! Big woolly Chenin nose. Wow. Electric Kool Aid with wool electric cut. Wow. A mammoth electrified. Some almonds, Meyer lemon as well. Super refined and elegant nose. So clean. Wow. Just Rieslingesque Chenin. Palate is immaculate. Perfect texture, balance and lithe concentration and almost a tannic impression on the back end. So sappy and pure. Brilliant finesse. Wow. This is drop dead. Super wine. Wow. Has 10+ years to go. Super lemony and no lack of acid. Long long finish. Dynamite.

Jun 8th, 2022
Josh Morgenthau

Bonkers nose. Quince, alpine strawberry, frangipane. A little animal musk. Knockout aromas, electric body. Grapefruit palate, tangerine. Such density, color, but with no (perceptible) oak. Loong lingering finish.

Bonkers nose. Quince, alpine strawberry, frangipane. A little animal musk. Knockout aromas, electric body. Grapefruit palate, tangerine. Such density, color, but with no (perceptible) oak. Loong lingering finish.

Jul 1st, 2021
Matt Perlman

Outstanding chenin. Ripe, musky nose, almost tropical, palate has oxidized green apple, salty lemon, some lanolin, creamy and waxy texture but vibrant and pure. Think this has plenty of energy to carry the second half of the bottle into day 2.

Outstanding chenin. Ripe, musky nose, almost tropical, palate has oxidized green apple, salty lemon, some lanolin, creamy and waxy texture but vibrant and pure. Think this has plenty of energy to carry the second half of the bottle into day 2.

Apr 22nd, 2020
Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Nose is lemony, mineral and precise. Almonds, vanilla, herbs. Gorgeous detail and so subtle. Palate has that German acid! Electric. So much acidity and lemon lime tinged fruit and also a hint of opulence. So fresh, so clean, so pure. Amazing. Likely the cleanest Chenin I’ve ever had. Complex minerality throughout and astonishing length. Amazing compact mouthfeel, explosive yet precise, pithy and youthful fruit and top top purity. Wow. Level of super 1er Cru White burg like a Meursault Perrieres or Chassagne La Grand Ruchottes. The best bottle of Echelier Blanc I’ve had so far.

Nose is lemony, mineral and precise. Almonds, vanilla, herbs. Gorgeous detail and so subtle. Palate has that German acid! Electric. So much acidity and lemon lime tinged fruit and also a hint of opulence. So fresh, so clean, so pure. Amazing. Likely the cleanest Chenin I’ve ever had. Complex minerality throughout and astonishing length. Amazing compact mouthfeel, explosive yet precise, pithy and youthful fruit and top top purity. Wow. Level of super 1er Cru White burg like a Meursault Perrieres or Chassagne La Grand Ruchottes. The best bottle of Echelier Blanc I’ve had so far.

Apr 3rd, 2019
Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Wow. Acidity. Depth. Young. Long.

Wow. Acidity. Depth. Young. Long.

Feb 12th, 2019
Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

8.9

Too young? Vintage effects? First time with this much ballyhooed producer and I was underwhelmed. A little soft and a little four-square. Tasty, but didn't meet my expectations.

Too young? Vintage effects? First time with this much ballyhooed producer and I was underwhelmed. A little soft and a little four-square. Tasty, but didn't meet my expectations.

Aug 12th, 2017
Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Stunning aromas. Nobel aromas. Lemon candy, lemon zest, honeyed almonds, loads of minerals, intoxicating. The minerality is truly encompassing. Palate is full of acids, such dense and delicate fruits. So elegant and mineral. Just stunning. Exuberant and expressive. Wonderful.

Stunning aromas. Nobel aromas. Lemon candy, lemon zest, honeyed almonds, loads of minerals, intoxicating. The minerality is truly encompassing. Palate is full of acids, such dense and delicate fruits. So elegant and mineral. Just stunning. Exuberant and expressive. Wonderful.

Jun 21st, 2017
Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Riesling in Chenin Clothing. Roasted nuts, almonds, some wooly fresh hay, spices, yellow fruits. Very complex. Palate is complex and super zippy. Insanely concentrated and powerful. Very pure and over 2 days still very structured. Very clean. Excellent.

Riesling in Chenin Clothing. Roasted nuts, almonds, some wooly fresh hay, spices, yellow fruits. Very complex. Palate is complex and super zippy. Insanely concentrated and powerful. Very pure and over 2 days still very structured. Very clean. Excellent.

Dec 24th, 2016
Christine Havens

Sourced from a small horse-plowed, biodynamically farmed two-hectare site, Clos de L'Echelier is blended from just two oval casks. The vines are seated in Turonian limestone, which gives Saumur Chenin's their characteristic minerality, which this bottle certainly has, though less pronounced than some I've tasted. The nose is endowed with expressive aromas of ripe pear, quince, and honeysuckle. On the palate, orchard fruit and subtle creaminess are bolstered by a singular, lithe and linear burst of acidity, which serves to add both freshness and lift.

Sourced from a small horse-plowed, biodynamically farmed two-hectare site, Clos de L'Echelier is blended from just two oval casks. The vines are seated in Turonian limestone, which gives Saumur Chenin's their characteristic minerality, which this bottle certainly has, though less pronounced than some I've tasted. The nose is endowed with expressive aromas of ripe pear, quince, and honeysuckle. On the palate, orchard fruit and subtle creaminess are bolstered by a singular, lithe and linear burst of acidity, which serves to add both freshness and lift.

Jul 3rd, 2016