Unfashionable, often forgotten and, quite wrongly, the much maligned Gamay has for centuries been overlooked. From the days of the First Duke of Burgundy, Philip the Bold, Gamay has received a bad rep. Philip banished it from the Cote d’Or to Beaujolais where it has remained ever since. This expression of Gamay from Bichot’s Estate Domaine de Rochegres is quite the opposite. The heritage of the Gamay variety is closer to the Cote d’Or than the cynics think. It is a child of Pinot Blanc and Gouias Blanc, making its great-grandfather to be none-other than Pinot Noir. Moulin-a-Vent is one of the few “Cru” Villages of Beaujolais that can express very similar characteristics as the great Pinots of the Cote d’Or. It is also extremely ageworthy too, with some examples easily ageing fifty years!

The 3 hectare single vineyard site of Domaine de Rochegres Moulin-a-Vent is situated on specific pink granite rock, hence the name Rochegres meaning Grey Rock. It contributes to the depth, complexity and longevity of the final wine. 50% of the wine is matured for 10 – 12 months in 350ltr oak barrels, adding to the body and flavour profile of this magnificent wine.

It is rich, warming and generous with a medium to full body, ripe bold tannins, juicy hedgerow berries, red and black fruit. Layers of meat, spice and earth compliment the fruit followed by a baked cherry pie finish. It is powerful, firm, structured and deep. Quite unlike the Beaujolais of old. It will match easily with Boeuf Bourgignon, game pie, duck and grouse. Serious Beaujolais. Enough said.