2010 Moulin-à-Vent, Champ de Cour, Château du Moulin-à-Vent
Critics reviews
Anthony Rose, More over Nouveau, The Independent & anthonyrosewine.com, Oct 19th 2015
About this WINE
Ch. du Moulin a Vent
This classic estate of 30 hectares in the heart of Moulin à Vent has recently been purchased by the Parinet family, whose first vintage is 2009. They plan to make up to five different wines from each vintage, demonstrating the various terroirs which they own in the heart of the appellation. They have clearly got off to a winning start as the wines below demonstrate.
Moulin-à-Vent
Known as the ‘King of Beaujolais’ for its power, structure and longevity, Moulin-à-Vent is the most atypical of all the Beaujolais Crus, even if it is potentially the best. Its style is the antithesis of light, fluffy Beaujolais, and when fully mature (often at 10 years old or more) it resembles more a fine Burgundy, or even a Rhône, than Beaujolais. Named after the local windmill (which translates as moulin-à-vent in French) Moulin-à-Vent is a real vindication of the principle of ‘terroir’.
Moulin-à-Vent's neighbour Fleurie produces perfumed, silky, approachable wines, while Moulin-à-Vent, using the same grape (100% Gamay) and broadly the same vinification, makes wines that are meaty, tannic and intense, and need 2-3 years to mature. The only possible explanation, it seems, is the high proportion of iron and manganese in Moulin-à-Vent’s soil. Moulin-à-Vent tends to be most expensive of the Beaujolais Crus, although happily it is home to a number of very fine producers, so there is plenty for wine lovers to choose from.
Recommended producers: Jacky Janodet, Olivier Merlin.
Gamay
A French variety planted predominately in Beaujolais where it is the grape behind everything from light and often acidic Beaujolais Nouveau through to the more serious and well-structured wines from the 10 cru villages. It takes its name from a hamlet just outside Chassagne-Montrachet and was at one stage widely planted on the Côte d`Or. However it was gradually phased out due to its poor yield and supposed poor quality of its wines.
The majority of Gamay wines in Beaujolais are labelled as Beaujolais or Beaujolais-Villages and are deliciously juicy, easy drinking, gulpable wines. Of more interest are the Cru wines from the 10 villages in the north of the region where the soil is predominantly granitic schist and where the vines are planted on gently undulating slopes. These can be well-structured, intensely perfumed wines, redolent of ripe black fruits and, while delicious young, will reward medium term cellaring.
Gamay is also grown in the Touraine region of the Loire where it produces soft, well-balanced, gluggable wines for drinking young.
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Description
The second single vineyard wine is grown on deeper soil on a bed of clay and galet roulé rocks, with eroded sand and granite above. Dense purple, with a heady nose, beautifully scented, ripe plummy fruit with a floral touch too. Beautiful depth, hardly showing the touch of wood at all, with good acidity and freshness.
Jasper Morris MW, Beaujolais Buying Director
Château de Moulin à Vent
This classic estate of 30 hectares in the heart of Moulin à Vent has recently been purchased by the Parinet family, whose first vintage is 2009. They plan to make up to five different wines from each vintage, demonstrating the various terroirs which they own in the heart of the appellation. They have clearly got off to a winning start as the wines below demonstrate.
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