{"id":39899,"date":"2023-07-20T19:45:36","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T17:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/?p=39899"},"modified":"2023-07-25T23:11:14","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T21:11:14","slug":"chateau-du-moulin-a-vent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/20\/chateau-du-moulin-a-vent\/","title":{"rendered":"From the Ch\u00e2teau du Moulin-\u00e0-Vent until the Domaine de la Tour de Bief, taste different facets from Beaujolais wines"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Following our first introduction to Beaujolais with the Dominique Piron’s domains (read our article here<\/a>), we invite you this time to learn more about another institution from this region, named Ch\u00e2teau du Moulin-\u00e0-Vent<\/a>. This reference domain, since 1732, is nested in the heart of the appellation, just 200 meters behind the historic windmill. Furthermore, this Ch\u00e2teau du Moulin-\u00e0-Vent offers four types of wines that reveal each terroir<\/em> with a certain finesse and elegance.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Managed by the family Parinet, since 2009 and Brice Laffond, oenologist, who work together in order to favor a strategy of excellence and a meticulous approach, guided by the specific identity of each of their great terroirs<\/em>. Moreover, the Ch\u00e2teau du Moulin-\u00e0-Vent practices a true organic viticulture, where so many treasures emanate from their vines and adapt with different types of occasions.<\/strong> By AP<\/em><\/p>\n

\n
\"\"
..to follow at any season<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
What a lovely alley<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you continue our trip 10 kilometers away from the town of M\u00e2con<\/strong>, you would find the Moulin-\u00e0-Vent<\/strong> appellation, located at the southern side of Burgundy<\/strong>. Proud of its 600 hectares of vines<\/strong>, we can find the early steps of this benchmark domain since 1732<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

Logically, the Ch\u00e2teau du Moulin-\u00e0-Vent<\/strong><\/a>, formerly called Ch\u00e2teau des Thorins<\/strong>, is deeply anchored in the heart of the eponymous appellation<\/strong> and in particular on the edge of the already famous Thorins<\/strong> plot and 200 meters behind the 15th century<\/strong> windmill, listed as a historic monument<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\nngg_shortcode_0_placeholder\n

\"\"
..and the grape<\/strong> harvest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The XVth<\/strong> century windmill<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This method<\/strong> is able to produce little, but good quality juices<\/strong>, due to their ancient<\/strong> condition. This family estate<\/strong> runs this qualitative<\/strong> method, leading to the finest vines<\/strong>, with unique characteristics<\/strong>, from the old<\/strong> vines<\/strong> of the Ch\u00e2teau<\/strong> (photo credits: MAV\/F. Juery).<\/p>\n

Once reproduced, this selection<\/strong> is planted in their granitic plots<\/strong>, and thus contributes to develop the genetic<\/strong> richness of their vineyard<\/strong> dried by the winds. These jewels<\/strong> are spread around the 30 ha<\/strong> estate, exclusively planted in this prestigious Moulin-\u00e0-Vent<\/strong> appellation, covering 7 beautiful plots<\/strong> named Le Champ de Cour<\/strong>, La Rochelle<\/strong>, Les V\u00e9rillats<\/strong>, Les Thorins<\/strong>, La Roche<\/strong> and Les Caves<\/strong>.<\/p>\nngg_shortcode_1_placeholder\n

\"\"
..who pay many efforts to renew this winery<\/strong> tradition.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Let’s meet a part from the Parinet<\/strong> family..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the way, the domain’s centenary<\/strong> underground cellar has not changed, preciously conserving the highest quality oak barrels<\/strong>, straight from the forests of Allier<\/strong> and the Vosges<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

On top of that, Jean-Jacques<\/strong> and \u00c9douard Parinet<\/strong>, both supported by Brice Laffond<\/strong>, the technical director of the estate, all favor a strategy of excellence and a barrel-by-barrel<\/strong> approach, guided by the specific identity and richness of each of their 91 plots<\/strong>. Although, 70,000 vines<\/strong> have been replanted across the domain, with a new way of vinification<\/strong><\/em> and aging the wines<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\nngg_shortcode_2_placeholder\n

\"\"
..a meticulous and organic viticulture<\/strong> is proceeded.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
From the early phase of maturation<\/strong>, until the final grape<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For your information, the Ch\u00e2teau du Moulin-\u00e0-Vent<\/strong><\/a> tends to practice a sustainable viticulture<\/strong>, featuring a biological<\/strong> orientation, breaking with the past. This new philosophy<\/strong> features a natural<\/strong> amendment, manual grassing<\/strong> and harvesting<\/strong>, along a minimal use of chemicals<\/strong> nor insecticide<\/strong>, guided by the principles of organic<\/strong> farming. Some plots even follow the precepts of biodynamic<\/strong> agriculture, with an annual soil tillage<\/strong> program that can guarantee a real root<\/strong> development of the vines<\/strong>, either in depth and aerate the different substrates<\/strong>, before revealing the huge diversity of this Moulin-\u00e0-Vent<\/strong> appellation.<\/p>\nngg_shortcode_3_placeholder\n

\"\"
..nourished by a couple of beehives<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
A fine wine<\/strong> to appreciate at all occasions..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With a meticulous approach for the artwork in the vineyard and the cellar, the Ch\u00e2teau du Moulin-\u00e0-Vent<\/strong> offers four main types of wines<\/strong> that reveal each terroir<\/strong><\/em> with finesse<\/em> and elegance, year after year. Among them, we can count on the traditional Ch\u00e2teau du Moulin-\u00e0-Vent<\/strong>, which with its 2,500 cases<\/strong> produced per year, offers a blend of some of the appellation’s finest terroirs<\/em><\/strong>. This is naturally considered as the emblematic wine<\/strong> of the estate and a reflection of their interpretation of Moulin-\u00e0-Vent<\/strong>. Then, the selection of the Croix des V\u00e9rillats<\/strong> plot attributes no less than 800 cases<\/strong>, full of granitic and sandy soils<\/strong>, providing some richness and smoothness to these wines<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\nngg_shortcode_4_placeholder\n

\"\"
Even in winter, the soil<\/strong>‘s work goes on..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Don\u2019t also miss the Champ de Cour<\/strong> plot, with its 600 cases<\/strong>, proposes powerful<\/strong> and mineral<\/strong> tones for this terroir<\/em><\/strong>, with more clayey soils. Last but not least, the Rochelle<\/strong> plot displays through 300 cases<\/strong>, maybe the most complete terroir<\/strong><\/em> and the most successful wine in the range of plot<\/strong> selections.<\/p>\n

Apart from this, horses<\/strong> are often hired to work  around soils<\/strong> from Les V\u00e9rillats<\/strong><\/em>‘ vines. Regarded as less heavy and more maniable than tractors<\/strong>, those strong horses<\/strong> are very useful to help in the oldest parts of the vineyard<\/strong>, where vines<\/strong> are generally the most fragile<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Icing on the cake, why not focusing on Les Terrasses du Ch\u00e2teau 2020<\/strong><\/a> vintage, present all year round on the Monoprix<\/strong> shelves (for 17 euros<\/strong>). This worthy elixir<\/em><\/strong> has been awarded by many prizes<\/strong>, such as the Selection Gourmet Jury<\/strong><\/em> and even a golden medal at the illustrious Concours G\u00e9n\u00e9ral Agricole 2020<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ngg_shortcode_5_placeholder\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"This Millesime 2020<\/strong><\/em> is dressed in a ruby<\/strong> color, spreading a floral<\/strong> nose of peony<\/strong>, completed with various aromas of red<\/strong> and black berries<\/strong>, along some notes of liquorice<\/strong>, nutmeg<\/strong> and black pepper<\/strong>. Once in mouth, the result is a dynamic but balanced wine<\/strong>, floating through fresh, fruity and peppery aromas<\/strong>, with a delicate length. An accessible wine<\/strong> to accompany with copper<\/strong>, ravioli<\/strong> or fine cheese<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A good sign that this domain<\/strong> always keeps the same desire to highlight the Gamay<\/strong> grape variety, mainly made here from old<\/strong> vines<\/strong> planted on windswept granite<\/strong> sands.<\/p>\nngg_shortcode_6_placeholder\n

\"\"
..until the ballet of tractors<\/strong> back at the right season.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
From manual harvesting<\/strong>, with a huge care<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In another side and still run by the Parinet<\/strong> family since 2012<\/strong>, why don’t you have a look at the Domaine de la Tour de Bief <\/strong>estate? Created in 1644<\/strong>, this domain<\/strong> may be regarded as one of the pillars of the Beaujolais<\/strong> appellation. It owes its name to a Moulin-\u00e0-Vent<\/strong><\/em> terroir<\/em> in quasi-monopoly, planted with 15ha<\/strong> of old vines <\/strong>(between 40 and 70 years), occupying the entire plateau<\/strong><\/em>, halfway up the  appellation<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

Grown on specific granitic<\/strong> soils and clayey<\/strong> subsoils, which are rich in manganese<\/strong> and metallic<\/strong> oxides, those vines<\/strong> are often blown by powerful winds<\/strong>. This has a decisive impact on the health of those vineyards<\/strong>, such as ripening<\/strong> and even concentration of grapes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
..of this noble juice<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Premium Gamay<\/strong><\/em> grape varieties are necessary to the production..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the way, the Millesime 2020<\/strong><\/em> is only made from Gamay<\/strong><\/em> grape variety, manually<\/strong> harvested before undergoing an old pre-fermentation<\/strong><\/em> (to bring finesse and roundness) and an aging of 15 months<\/strong> in concrete vats<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This nectar<\/strong><\/em> displays a spicy<\/strong> fragrance with generous notes of black fruits<\/strong>, such as juicy blackberry<\/strong>, raspberry<\/strong> and wild strawberry<\/strong>. An ideal red wine<\/strong> for grilled<\/strong> and roasted<\/strong> dishes, to serve between 14\u00b0 and 16\u00b0, preferably after a decanting<\/strong> of 1 hour before serving. <\/p>\n

Ch\u00e2teau du Moulin-\u00e0-Vent<\/strong><\/a>, 4, rue des Thorins, Le Moulin-\u00e0-Vent, 71570 Roman\u00e8che-Thorins (France) \/ Phone: +33 (0)3 85 35 50 68. More information about the complete range on the official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
 <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Following our first introduction to Beaujolais with the Dominique Piron’s domains (read our article here),…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":39927,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,925],"tags":[997,1492,604,1149,409,1108],"class_list":["post-39899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gastronomy","category-rhone-alps","tag-beaujolais","tag-chateau-du-moulin-a-vent","tag-organic","tag-rhone-valley","tag-wine","tag-winery"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39899"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39899\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40108,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39899\/revisions\/40108"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}