Clos de la Roilette Moulin-á-Vent 2023

Country: France

Region: Beaujolais

Type: Red Wine

Grape: Gamay

The Clos de la Roilette, a lieu-dit in the village of Fleurie, covers nine hectares of one of the best slopes in the Beaujolais Crus. The clos has an eastern exposure, borders the Moulin-à-Vent  appellation, and produces wines that are beautiful when young and have the capacity to age 5-10 years, depending on the vintage.

In the 1920’s, when the Fleurie appellation was first created, the former landowner was infuriated with losing the Moulin-à-Vent appellation under which the clos had previously been classified. He created a label, using a photograph of his racehorse Roilette, and used the name Clos de la Roilette without mentioning Fleurie. The owner vowed not to sell a drop of his wine on the French market and the production went to Switzerland, Germany and England.

By the mid-1960s, the owner’s heirs had lost interest in the clos and a large portion of the land had gone wild and untended. In 1967, Fernand Coudert bought this poorly maintained estate and replanted the vineyards. His son Alain joined him in 1984, and has been the winemaker since.

The Couderts say their particular terroir (mainly clay and manganese), and the age of their vines account for the richness of their wines. This is a brand new cuvée as of last year, and a welcome addition to the Roilette lineup. Made just like the Fleurie, so structured, dark-fruited and savory, with a polished, slightly more rugged structure. Aromas of earth and mineral notes with spice, floral and black fruits like cherry and cassis. The palate is dense but elegant and fine, dominated by earthy acidity, with ripe pure black fruits on the finish.