Domaine Janin Moulin à Vent Les Vignes du Tremblay 2014

Description

“The Janin’s estate is one of the leading lights of the Romanèche Thorins.  Its manicured vineyards are predominantly planted in manganese rich soils that emphasize the wines spicy,  very original taste of terroir and improve their ageing potential.” Bettane & Desseauve’s Guide to the Wines of France.

This is the area of Burgundy that delivers the greatest values in red wines and when you consider that quality Moulin à Vent can easily live and develop for 40 – 50 years, you can hardly have too much of the stuff.

Janin’s seven hectares of Moulin à Vent vines are scattered over 10 different parcels.  Old vines, low yields and organic/biodynamic viticulture are the norm.  No wonder La Revue du Vin de France lists Janin as amongst their top six Beaujolais growers. The wines are raised in the same huge 35/hl barrels first purchased by Eric Janin’s grandfather and are neither fined nor filtered.  They are some of the most age worthy wines from the region with a structured, mineral, ferrous intensity that screams “granite “.  This is in fact one of the very few Beaujolais estates forced to strictly allocate their wines … hence the very limited quantities we have available!

Les Vignes du Tremblay is crafted from a blend of parcels in and around the historical Tremblay climat of Moulin à Vent and is the cuvée we typically get the most of.  In years which deliver volume and quality, two single vineyard wines are made, Les Greneriers Vieilles Vignes and Clos du Tremblay. Without the quantity for a separate les Greneriers cuvée in 2014 the old vine fruit from this parcel joins a roster of vineyards that include Champ de Cour, Brusselions, Greneriers (jeune vignes), Perelles and Aux Caves (each vinified separately).  These parcels cover myriad soil types and aspects but we can generalise and say that, for the most part, the vines here are rooted in the rose tinted granitic sands of the region.  The old vine concentration – les Greneriers weighs in with fruit from its 100+ year old vines – is immediately apparent. Cracking. Decant it if serving now or hold it back for a few years. It will easily improve for 15+ years.

Vincent Garde, The Australian, June, 2016 … “A cru of some weight. Dark youthful appearance with already quite plush aromas of ripe berry fruits with a hint of mineral. Really quite structured, there is an intensity and weight reminiscent of a good baby burgundy from the Cote de Beaune. Needs a little time to open up, at which point it will belie the old saw that no beaujolais can be successfully cellared.”

About the 2014 vintage … Antonio Galloni, Vinous “… 2014 might turn out to have produced the most consistently outstanding group of Beaujolais since the legendary 2005s, which is saying something. That’s especially true for readers who prize the classic style of Beaujolais that emphasizes energetic fruit and mineral character, qualities the ‘14s possess in spades … the 2014s exhibit lively berry and floral character punctuated by zesty minerality. The wines are concentrated yet not heavy, and show good structure without coming off as outsized …  hugely appealing right now but I have no doubt that they will reward another three to five years of aging.”

RRP $52

(*Also available at a Special Dozen Price CLICK HERE)