Founded in 1900 in Beaumont-en-Véron, Domaine des Roches is a family estate now run by Alain Lenoir and his son Jérôme, who farm the estate’s 3.5 hectares of vines inherited from Jérôme’s grandfather. Representing the family’s fourth generation, Jérôme Lenoir, originally trained as an industrial designer, joined the estate in 2001.
The vines, averaging around 70 years of age, are planted predominantly to Cabernet Franc, complemented by a small amount of Chenin, on poor soils with just 20 to 30 centimetres of topsoil over the region’s characteristic tuffeau chalk. A small parcel of Chinon Blanc is planted with very old Chenin vines dating from before 1900. The vines are farmed naturally and have never been treated with either fertilisers or pesticides. Following manual harvests, the grapes are destemmed.
In the winery, punch downs are carried out by hand with a wooden plunger in old foudres (large wooden tuns). Father and son favour the most natural approach possible, relying on native yeasts and using only minimal sulphur before the wines are aged in casks for an extended period of three to six years. The wines are not filtered prior to bottling.
The estate’s Chinons are distinguished by their purity, remarkable finesse and exceptional ageing potential.