L'Echelier is a standout expression of Cab Franc.

There's a unique haunting perfume, a lifted brightness and energetic minerality to the wine that overturns what you think is possible from the grape.

For us, it's the l'Echelier Rouge that best captures the delicate and fine style that has become Roches Neuves' calling card.

It's rare that people compare a Cab Franc to Chambolle, but that's how people talk about l'Echelier. In the Loire continuum, Saumur-Champigny is known to be more muscular compared to Chinon and Bourgueil. In the l'Echelier, you get Saumur's density, but with a shocking amount of precision and refinement.

Clos de l’Echelier is a 1.8ha clos (a walled vineyard) on hard limestone soils. There's only a thin layer of top soil. We associate a certain elegance and sleek precision with limestone. And the l’Echelier really delivers these qualities.

Tasting the 2015s, it’s obvious that Roches Neuves nailed the vintage. The wines make clear that the domaine is justifiably placed on par with the region's best.

L'Echelier really shines in the power of the 2015 vintage. Its elegance and precision is amplified, rather than obscured, in the vintage's ripeness. It has the wonderful silken texture that makes the wine so special and vivid. There's a gorgeous weightless impression.

In any given vintage, only about 4,800 bottles are produced. Judging from the response to our 2015 Memoires offering, word has definitely gotten out about Roches Neuves 2015s. I tried to go as deep as possible on the 2015 l'Echelier, but there's simply not that much of the wine available. Please give us your ideal order and we'll try our best.

To order, reply to this email or call the store at (212) 980-9463.

Joe Salamone

Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits