Xavier Weisskopf established Domaine Rocher des Violettes in 2005. He was born in the Oise region in 1979 and trained as a winegrower in Chablis. He continued his apprenticeship in Beaune where he became cellar master at Gigondas before creating his own property. His vineyard parcels are dotted around the commune of Saint-Martin-Le-Beau with 9 hectares in Montlouis and 4 hectares in the Touraine AOP. The vines are mature in age and Xavier Weisskopf does not use chemical fertilisers or products. Harvests are carried out by hand and every effort is made to limit oxidation and to preserve the wines’ integrity. If you have not already done so, it is well worth trying these wines which are currently superb.

To craft this single-varietal Cabernet franc, the Loire domain Rocher des Violettes grows 6,500 vines per hectare. Around thirty years old, these plants are cultivated organically. They enjoy a continental climate with influence from the ocean, and the soil is rich in chalk and clay. Pruned following the Guyot method, the yields are limited to 30 hectolitres per hectare.
In the cellar, the grapes are destemmed and vinified in cone-shaped, wooden containers. The wine is stirred during the three-week vatting phase. It is then matured in oak casks for a year.
Made to be aged for around 8 years, this is an indulgent and concentrated wine structured by ripe tannins. It has a frank and well-balanced finish. It will pair nicely with roasted poultry, sweet potato gratin, or maybe an autumnal salad.