Dom des Perrelles 2023 Bottiere Moulin a Vent (Gamay, Beaujolais)

The Wine

An interesting bit of trivia for the curious wine lover - the wines coming from the ten Crus of Beaujolais are considered to be of such high quality, they don't want to taint their reputation by putting the "Beaujolais" on the label. This avoids any possible connection with the global sea of "Beaujolais Nouveau", which sells for maybe a third the price!

This particular cru - Moulin-a-Vent - is considered the most age-worthy of Beaujolais ten Crus. Located in the Northern part of the region, just South of Burgundy. The wine was made from old vines over 60 years old, then fermented with native yeasts and aged in large Foudre, thus imparting no woodsy notes but allowing the wine to slowly breathe during its critical early months.

Tasting Notes: heady aromas of cherries, violets and roses. On the palate the wine delivers earthy minerality and soft, delectable tannins framing a heady concentration of stone fruits, floral notes, and a touch of licorice. The finish is elegant and persistent enough to invite a long and lingering evening of extended enjoyment. This wine will be the highlight of your day!

Pairings: Duck breast in cherry sauce, steak frites, Mushroom anything (risotto is ideal!), Grilled lamb with a touch of rosemary and garlic, or cheeses such as a Tomme, aged gouda or St Nectair. Note, cellar this wine for 5–7 years and you'll begin to see it aging potential as it develops the coveted bottle bouquet of a well-aged red.

The Winery

Domaine des Perrelles is part of the historic Perrachon family estate whose winemaking roots date back to 1601.

Today, Laurent Perrachon, his wife Martine, and their children Maxime and Adrien (the fifth and sixth generations) run the domaine. Based in Juliénas (another Beaujolais Cru), they produce wines from six of the ten Beaujolais crus: Juliénas, Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Fleurie, Chénas, and Saint-Amour. All grapes are hand-harvested, and the wines are vinified with native yeasts and aged in their vaulted cellars that the winery had built in 1701.

The Bottière cuvée exemplifies why Moulin-à-Vent is often called the “Lord of Beaujolais”—it combines the charm of Gamay with the structure and aging potential more commonly associated with Burgundy.