The results are in, and the 2018 Domaine Diochon Moulin a Vent is one of the top Cru Beaujolais of the highly rated 2018 vintage.
2018 Domaine Diochon Moulin a Vent Vieilles Vignes
95 points JS (that’s me), 94 points Wine Advocate
To order, stop by the store or click here to order in our online store.
Moulin-a-Vent is the grandest of the Beaujolais’ Crus, and Diochon makes one of the finest versions out there. Rated 94 points by the Wine Advocate, possessing a drinking window of 2020-2033, and coming to you at less than $25, this is the wine that will help you understand my never-ending love for Cru Beaujolais.
“The 2018 Moulin-à-Vent Vieilles Vignes is showing superbly, wafting from the glass with an outgoing bouquet of dark berries, violets, blood orange, licorice and smoked meats. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, with a textural attack, powdery tannins and ripe acids, concluding with a pure and expansive finish. Drink 2020 – 2033.” – Wine Advocate – 94 points
That doesn’t sound like your typical Beaujolais does it? That’s because it’s not! Thomas Patenôtre works with extremely old Gamay vines (50-85 years old), he conducts whole cluster vinifications, classical macerations, and he brings his wines up in older foudre (large oak casks). The resulting wine, and he only makes this one wine, is a classical expression of the appellation.
This is a wine that admirers of old school Cru Beaujolais, me included, are going to love. It’s about as far removed from a Beaujolais Nouveau as a Whopper is to a prime piece of beef! The color, like the flavor, is cassis-like, and the style here is like a hypothetical cross of Red Burgundy meets Northern Rhone Syrah.
Importer Kermit Lynch sums it up pretty nicely: “Diochon’s Moulin-à-Vent is juicily delicious yet there is a majesty to it. It is full-blown and full-bodied, yet it has a lush, supple, swallowable texture. No hard edges. No astringency. No heat. Moulin-à-Vent is supposed to be the grandest of the region’s Grands Crus, and here you sense a certain grandeur throughout the taste experience.”
If it’s good enough for Kermit, it’s good enough for me. After tasting this, I promptly bought my distributor out. I’ve already snagged mine — I’ll cellar 6 of them, and I’ll drink the rest with family this year at Thanksgiving. You should do the same.
To order, stop by the store or click here to order in our online store.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville