Toggle Navigation Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Your Cart
Close
Shop the Spring Sale! ⇒
SHIPPING INCLUDED 12+ BOTTLES OR $199+ →
Home Shop All Wines


Main Menu
Shop All Wines

Producers

Producers

Producers

Shop All Wines
Shop All Wines
Shop All Wines
Shop All Wines
Shop All Wines
Shop All Wines
Close

Notify me

Fill out your info and we will notify you when the 2020 Saumur-Champigny “Les Mémoires” Thierry Germain is back in stock or when a new vintage becomes available.


2020 Saumur-Champigny “Les Mémoires”

Thierry Germain

From their perch in a vineyard overlooking the Loire River, the ancient Cabernet Franc vines that go into Thierry Germain’s Les Mémoires sit deeply rooted in the Loire valley’s signature limestone tuffeau. My tasting note included the phrase “rapturous raspberry fruit,” which now looks a bit silly in the harsh light of my computer screen, but really does describe the vividness of my impression. And not only raspberries, but blood orange, fine tannins, and incredible minerality. The stone that once built a château now fills bottles.

Dustin Soiseth

$80.00
Wine Type: red
Vintage: 2020
Bottle Size: 750mL
Blend: Cabernet Franc
Appellation: Saumur-Champigny
Country: France
Region: Loire
Producer: Thierry Germain
Winemaker: Thierry Germain
Vineyard: 112 years, .8 ha
Soil: Silex Scree, Turonien Supérieur Limestone
Aging: Aged in 2500L foudre for 12 months
Farming: Biodynamic (certified)
Alcohol: 13.5%

More from this Producer or Region

About Loire

map of Loire

The defining feature of the Loire Valley, not surprisingly, is the Loire River. As the longest river in France, spanning more than 600 miles, this river connects seemingly disparate wine regions. Why else would Sancerre, with its Kimmeridgian limestone terroir be connected to Muscadet, an appellation that is 250 miles away?

Secondary in relevance to the historical, climatic, environmental, and cultural importance of the river are the wines and châteaux of the Jardin de la France. The kings and nobility of France built many hundreds of châteaux in the Loire but wine preceded the arrival of the noblesse and has since out-lived them as well.

Diversity abounds in the Loire. The aforementioned Kimmderidgian limestone of Sancerre is also found in Chablis. Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur boast the presence of tuffeau, a type of limestone unique to the Loire that has a yellowish tinge and a chalky texture. Savennières has schist, while Muscadet has volcanic, granite, and serpentinite based soils. In addition to geologic diversity, many, grape varieties are grown there too: Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne are most prevalent, but (to name a few) Pinot Gris, Grolleau, Pinot Noir, Pineau d’Aunis, and Folle Blanche are also planted. These myriad of viticultural influences leads to the high quality production of every type of wine: red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert.

Like the Rhône and Provence, some of Kermit’s first imports came from the Loire, most notably the wines of Charles Joguet and Château d’Epiré—two producers who are featured in Kermit’s book Adventures on the Wine Route and with whom we still work today.

More from Loire or France

$31.00
$116.00

2020 Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu sur lie “La Nöe”

Éric Chevalier  France  |  Loire  |  Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu

$25.00
$51.00

2019 Vin de France Blanc Chenin

Grange Saint-Sauveur  France  |  Loire  |  Vin de France

$62.00
$42.00

2018 Val de Loire Blanc “Fié Gris”

Éric Chevalier  France  |  Loire  |  Vin de Pays du Val de Loire

$28.00

2015 Vouvray “Les Tries”

Champalou  France  |  Loire  |  Vouvray

$67.00

2021 Pouilly-Fumé “Vieilles Vignes”

Régis Minet  France  |  Loire  |  Pouilly Fumé

$34.00
$31.00
$80.00
$37.00

If you're looking for value, look where no one else is looking.

Inspiring Thirst, page 211

Kermit once said...
Close
Close

Add a new credit card

Please complete the form below.

Cancel
Close

Add a new shipping address

Please complete your shipping address below.
Cancel
Close
Close

Warnings


Drinking distilled spirits, beer, coolers, wine and other alcoholic beverages may increase cancer risk, and, during pregnancy, can cause birth defects. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/alcohol


Many food and beverage cans have linings containing bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical known to cause harm to the female reproductive system. Jar lids and bottle caps may also contain BPA. You can be exposed to BPA when you consume foods or beverages packaged in these containers. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/bpa