On Sale: $49.94 (was: $59.94)*
Moulin-a-Vent is consistently one of the top crus of Beaujolais, producing an ageworthy and elegant style that is equally sought after by both top restaurants and collectors. By all accounts the eponymous Chateau du Moulin-a-Vent is “beginning to produce some of the best wines in the appellation” according to the Wine Advocate, and top cuvees like Champ de Cour can compete with red Burgundy at double the price.
Since 2009 Jean-Jacques Parinet has helmed one of Beaujolais’ most impressive revivals, with the Wine Advocate ranking them “among the appellation's finest and most conscientious producers” (WA), known for organic farming, ultra low yields, and careful vineyard management. The 2017 ‘Champ de Cour’ is a “formidable wine” (W&S), coming from a plot just below the AOC’s famous windmill, and with only 125 cases produced, this cellar worthy Beaujolais should be snatched up quickly.
Moulin-a-Vent is one of the two most structured of the Beaujolais crus (along with Morgon), though with an unmistakable elegance from the unique pink granite of its terroir. Chateau Moulin-a-Vent’s cuvees have a “long-established track record of aging beautifully” (Vinous), and indeed they very much build them to last. Parinet’s aim is to “render wines that will be flatteringly compared with those great Pinots of the Cote d’Or” (Wine Advocate), but this 2017 Champ de Cour is still a classic Beaujolais, both playful and serious at the same time. Cheers!
93 points, Wine Spectator: "Elegantly textured, with glossy tannins encasing raspberry coulis and ripe cherry notes infused with black tea, orange zest, licorice and sleek mineral details. A serious wine that should age well. Drink now through 2030. 125 cases made"
93 points, Wine & Spirits: "While hail severely cut back the 2017 crop, the fruit that remained created a formidable wine. It cascades with fruit up front, before the tannins tighten around all that floral intensity. Then, with air, it opens further, yielding scents of figs, plums and strawberries, still tight, but the racy fruit flavors last."
93 points, Wine Enthusiast: "A small harvest because of hail has produced this richly concentrated wine. Dense tannins and impressive black fruits are layered with acidity and a tensely structured character. The wine should be aged further to reveal its full panoply of flavors."
*Offer publication date December 19, 2021. Pricing and availability subject to change.