Moulin-a-Vent is arguably the most noteworthy of the ten Beaujolais crus, located in the north of Beaujolais. Made from Gamay, these wines are known for being some of the most concentrated and tannic made in this region, a far cry from the light, simple Beaujolais Nouveau wines. It is one of the few crus not named after a specific village, instead being named for the famous local windmill. It is also generally regarded as one of the longest lived crus, and can drink well for up to ten years after harvest.

The 2015 Domaine de la Ranche – Moulin-a-Vent has a deep purple colour, fairly intense aromas of black fruit such as mulberry or black cherry, with slight chocolatey notes. Palate is rich yet fresh, with good firm tannins and notes of wet stone. Good weight and length. There were just 4,000 cases made.

Domaine de la Ranche is located in the village of Chenas in the heart of the Beaujolais wine region. In the 50s, Claude Chevalier bought this property and today Alexis is the 3rd generation winemaker of the Chavelier family to work the vineyards. The domaine has two separate vineyards; one in the village of La Ranche, on east-facing slopes in Chénas on soils composed of pink granite, and another vineyard at “Pérelles” in the commune of Romanèche also facing east just below the famous windmill of the Moulin-a-Vent appellation composed of pink limestone. The 12 hectares are harvested manually with a 12 to 14 day vinification depending on the vintage. The wine is aged in stainless steel vats to let the Gamay express the best of its fruit forward characteristic.

Price: Case of 12 at $261.00 ($21.75 per bottle)

Drink: Now or over the next 8 years

Food Pairing: Roast chicken, seared duck breast with fruit compote made with cherries or figs, classic French dishes in a creamy sauce, kidneys with mustard sauce and boeuf stroganoff