Colette Moulin a Vent 2024
DISTRIBUTOR NOTES:
OVERVIEW: “If Fleurie’s “feminine” aspect has caused it to be known as the “queen” of the Beaujolais crus, Moulin-à-Vent could be seen as the “king”. Its powerful minerality almost overrides the bright Gamay fruit the rest of the region is known for. Colette’s version comes from a south-southeast oriented old-vine vineyard (average age: 70 years old) sitting on manganese-rich granite soils.”
WINEMAKING: “After a manual harvest and rigorous sorting, 70% of the grapes are destemmed and undergo carbonic maceration before being pressed and aged in cement tanks for 9 months.”
TASTING: “Ruby-red, this wine has fascinating aromas of iris and rose, as well as spices and ripe red fruits. The same flavors continue on the palate, supported by a great minerality and silky tannins.”
ABOUT THE PRODUCER: “Domaine de Colette is located in the small village of Lantignié, regarded as the top village in the cru of Regnié, and less than 1 kilometer from the border of Morgon. It is owned and run by the humble Jacky Gauthier (with his wife Evelyne), whose family has been making wine for several generations. It was his father René who officially created Domaine de Colette in 1953. Gauthier began studying enology in the late 1970’s at the tender age of 17, planning to work with his parents’ on their then 8 hectares of vineyards. Meanwhile, in 1980 he got an offer from an uncle to help him work his vineyard, which he gladly accepted, and in 1984 was able to buy that vineyard and make wine from both family vineyards. His father passed away a decade later and he created one domaine encompassing all the family vineyards. Gauthier has enlarged his property by nearly a third since we began working with him 15 years ago, having purchased additional vineyards in Fleurie and Moulin- à-Vent, thus bringing his total holdings to 14 hectares of vines. He now makes wines in Beaujolais-Villages as well as 4 crus (his home cru of Regnié, plus Morgon, Fleurie and Moulin-à-Vent). His son Alexandre appears to be waiting in the wings as the next generation, as he is currently studying viticulture and enology.”