From: Moulin-a-Vent, Beaujolais, France
Varietal: Gamay
Tasting Notes: This wine boasts an explosive nose of raspberries, red currants, and plums, immediately captivating the senses. The palate reveals a medium body with layers of fruit, showcasing a plush texture that allows the vibrant fruit flavors to persist through the finish. The fruit perfectly balances the acidity. Notes of roses and iris add an elegant finesse, while the layered red fruits of strawberry and cranberry further enhance their complexity. This is the quintessence of a bistro wine.
Pairing: The medium body and plush texture make it an excellent match for grilled steak frites, chateaubriand, beef bourguignon, tournedos, and pot-au-feu. It complements roasted lamb shank, shoulder of lamb with thyme, and roast coq de bruyère.
The wine’s finesse and floral hints of roses and iris enhance leek quiche, pan-fried chanterelle mushrooms, tuna in Basquaise sauce, and seared duck breast with fruit. Additionally, it pairs wonderfully with chicken with tarragon and boeuf stroganoff. Its versatility and balanced profile make it a quintessential choice for both casual and elegant dining experiences.
Tarragon Chicken
By Nigella Lawson
About. In the region of Moulin-à-Vent, the late Jacky Janodet earned a reputation as an artisan producer of first-class Cru Beaujolais. His dedication to quality winemaking has left an indelible mark on the region, with his 17.2 acres of vineyards, known as Domaine Les Fines Graves. These vineyards, with their high percentage of ancient vines, produce wines of remarkable richness and power, often improving with several years in the bottle.
Today, Domaine Les Fines Graves is managed by Jacky’s wife, Evelyn, and their son, Jerome. The estate continues to uphold its reputation for excellence, producing exceptional wines from the Beaujolais-Villages, Chénas, and St. Amour appellations. However, the Moulin-à-Vent, often referred to as the queen of Beaujolais, truly reigns supreme at this estate. Characterized by its profound, brooding nature and Burgundian qualities, this wine is one of the most complex and age-worthy Beaujolais.
Following in his father's footsteps, Jerome has also embarked on his own winemaking venture. He produces a sumptuous Saint-Amour from his Domaine des Vieilles Caves, a small plot of 75 to 100-year-old vines once owned by his grandfather. With a limited production of only 250 cases a year, these wines are a rare and precious commodity, cherished by connoisseurs.
Wine Notes: The grapes for this wine come from vineyards that span 7 hectares, with soils composed of sand, schist, and pink granite. The vineyard is exclusively planted with 100% Gamay grapes, with the vines averaging 60 years of age. This maturity results in a lower yield of approximately 45 hectoliters per hectare, ensuring concentrated flavors and high-quality fruit.
The vinification process at Domaine Les Fines Graves involves traditional semi-carbonic fermentation in large vats, a method that enhances the vibrant fruitiness and complexity of the wine. Following fermentation, the wine is aged for six months in 5,000-liter foudres, large wooden barrels that allow for gentle maturation and the development of subtle oak influences. The final assemblage, or blending, occurs in cement vats, which help preserve the wine's purity and minerality.
