Tuesday, February 21, 2012

EXPLORING BEAUJOLAIS: GEORGES DUBOEUF MOULIN-A-VENT 2009


Duboeuf Moulin-A-Vent

We have already visited several of the crus of Beaujolais - through tasting the wine, at least -  in this little series, and this time we are again tasting a Georges Duboeuf wine.  It's one of a number of Duboeuf wines received as samples for review.

The Moulin-à-Vent cru features some of the “most robust of the Beaujolais wines,” according to the Duboeuf label.  They are also said to be the most age-worthy wines in the Beaujolais region.  As I understand it, the soil in Moulin-à-Vent has a rather high manganese content.  This is actually toxic to grapevines in high enough concentrations.  Here, the manganese level is just high enough to cause the vines to produce limited yields.  This makes the wine’s aromas and flavors quite intense.  

windmill, Moulin-A-VentA 15th-century windmill overlooks the appellation and gives the region its name.  It has not been used functionally for years, but it serves as one of the most striking visuals in Beaujolais.

Duboeuf’s Moulin-à-Vent is produced from 100% hand-harvested Gamay grapes.  It has a very reasonable 13% alcohol content and sells for $16.

The wine's bouquet is quite full of fruit and spice. It's a rich and heavy nose, bursting with intensity.  The flavors are just as impressive, showing cherries and plums with a nice floral texture.  Spices grace the palate as they do the nose, and a note of cedar shows through.  The acidity is bracing and the tannic structure is forceful, to a point of distraction, compared with other wines from Beaujolais.  I can see the Duboeuf Moulin-à-Vent pairing quite well with meat of any kind. 




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