Alain and Jérome Lenoir (father and son) inherited the family estate, 3.5 hectares precisely, which belonged to Jérôme's great-grandfather. Domaine des Roches is based in Beaumont-en-Veron in the Chinon appellation, in the Loire.
The estate has Cabernet Franc and Chenin vines. The vines are around sixty years old and the soil offers 20cm of earth, so it is the roots which seek nutrients from the parent rock, which is very hard and which gives Chinon wines a very good reputation. Domaine des Roches has the vast majority of Cabernet Franc and they have a small plot of Chenin of 23 acres.
At Domaine Des Roches, the harvest is all done manually. The aging takes place in very old wooden vats and the alcoholic fermentation takes place with native yeasts. Aging lasts from 3 to 6 years in barrels, depending on the vintage and Jérôme Lenoir's wishes. Jérôme Lenoir's unique and emblematic red vintage does not undergo any filtration, only very light sulfiting when necessary. Jérôme Lenoir produces wines that do not leave you indifferent and have attracted the favor of lovers of great Chinon.
Domaine des Roches remains confidential and on a human scale with barely 10,000 bottles produced per vintage. Jérôme Lenoir sometimes offers old vintages and we strongly invite you to taste them.
Also, his white Chinon is extremely rare and we understand why. It is made from very old, century-old Chenin - and probably pre-phyloxera - harvested ripe, and aged for at least two years. Its aromas are of great finesse with flavors of acacia honey. Notice to amateurs!