Le Rocher des Violettes Cabernet Franc, Touraine AOC, Loire Valley, France 2021
Le Rocher des Violettes translates to "The Rock of Violets"—and one swirl of the glass confirms why. Born from a love affair with Cabernet Franc along the river Vienne in Chinon, this wine is a 55-year-old vine expression of the Loire Valley. It is a lighter-bodied, more peppery alternative to its Bordeaux cousins, crafted with natural yeast and zero new oak to allow its floral perfume to shine through.
"Stunning perfume of violets, tobacco, and spice leads into a palate of red raspberries, cherries, and fresh herbs with a signature hint of green pepper. Vibrant and authentic. Pair with roasted poultry, herbaceous goat cheese, or classic steak frites." — Harvest Wine Shop
Blend: 100% Cabernet Franc
Region: Touraine, Loire Valley (90% Chinon border, 10% Montlouis)
Volume: 750ml
Alcohol: 12.8% ABV
Farming Practice: 55yr Old Vines; Certified Organic; Natural Yeast; Unfined & Unfiltered
Serving Suggestion: Serve at cellar temp or with a light chill. 
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About Le Rocher des Violettes
Le Rocher des Violettes — "The Rock of Violets" — is the Loire Valley estate of winemaker Xavier Weisskopf, known for old-vine, certified organic wines that let a handful of overlooked appellations speak for themselves. If you're drawn to Cabernet Franc with real perfume and Chenin Blanc with real precision, this is one of the names to know.
Meet Xavier Weisskopf
Xavier Weisskopf wasn't born into a winemaking family — he grew up in Picardy, in northern France, before studying viticulture and oenology in Beaune. Before starting his own estate, he worked as cellar master at Château St-Cosme in the southern Rhône, absorbing a level of precision he'd later bring back to the Loire. In 2005, he bought his first parcel: 6.8 hectares of well-established old vines in Montlouis-sur-Loire, an appellation that sits just across the river from Vouvray but has historically lived in its shadow. He's since grown the estate to 13 hectares — 9 in Montlouis and 4 in the neighboring Touraine AOC — building a reputation as one of the region's most exacting young producers.
Old Vines, Organic Farming, a Light Touch
The entire Le Rocher des Violettes estate is certified organic. Because most of the vines were planted before 1940, yields stay naturally low, and every harvest is done by hand. In the cellar, Weisskopf works the same way he farms: minimally. His wines ferment with indigenous yeast and are bottled with only a minimal, careful dose of sulfur — enough to keep them stable, never enough to mute what the vineyard produced. The result is wine with unusual clarity: fresh, mineral, and precise, with an aromatic detail that's rare at this price point.
What's in the Bottle
Montlouis is Chenin Blanc country, planted on tuffeau soils similar to Vouvray's, and it's where Weisskopf's whites get their signature texture and cut. Across the river in Touraine, his Cabernet Franc — sometimes called "Breton" locally — comes from vines up to 55 years old, giving a lighter, more perfumed style than its Bordeaux counterparts: violets, spice, and red fruit over the more familiar green pepper backbone of the grape.
Why Harvest Wine Shop Carries Le Rocher des Violettes
We're always looking for producers who let old vines and honest farming do the talking instead of heavy-handed winemaking, and Xavier Weisskopf is exactly that. Certified organic, hand-harvested, and made with minimal intervention, his wines are a reliable, well-priced entry point into everything we love about the Loire Valley.
Shipping information
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