Moulin à Vent Lucile Maud 2015 Franck Bessone

A premium Moulin-à-Vent named after Franck Bessone's daughters. The practice of naming wines after the winemaker's offspring is one I've seen quite a bit in Austria, but this is the first such example I've found in Beaujolais. The wine is made with grapes which come from old vines from the very best Moulin-à-Vent parcels in the Domaine du Granit estate. The grapes are picked by hand at optimum ripeness levels and destalked prior to the individual berries being put in a tank. The temperature is lowered to 10°C, then slowly allowed to rise over the next 4-5 days and fermentation starts spontaneously using yeasts occurring naturally on the grape skins.

To give the wine structure, the ancient method of pigeage, or "punching down", is applied twice daily to maximise tannin extraction. There follows a long and slow fermentation over three weeks and then the wine is aged in oak barrels for about 18 months. During ageing the wine is racked once.

A big framed Moulin with substantial depth of colour. On the nose are vanilla, oak and violets, with newly cut hay and spice aromas. On the palate, it is smooth yet dense with great depth of flavour, lots of fruit, an almost meaty texture and a gamey earthiness. Huge length with spice and violets.

Open to allow it to breathe before consumption. Serve around 14-15°C with rich red meat dishes, stews, game etc. 13.0% ABV.

Ben says (February 2017): Patience is rewarded by letting this wine breathe and open up before serving. The tasting notes above are still spot on.