Chateau du Moulin-à-Vent dates back to 1732 and gave its name to the appellation when it was created in 1936. The estate has 37 hectares of vines across the appellation’s finest terroirs on mostly granitic soils rich in iron oxide, copper and manganese. This is a single-site Gamay from La Rochelle, an elevated, close-planted (10,000 vines per hectare) vineyard at 280m with plantings dating back to the 1950s and earlier.

This estate is emblematic. When the Moulin-à-Vent appellation was created in 1936 it took its name from the windmill that overlooks the vineyards

Yield is limited to 20hl/ha. Hand-harvested grapes are destemmed and cold-soaked for three weeks before fermentation. Pumping over and some pigeage (foot-stomping) aid extraction and contribute roundness and finesse. 65% of the wine is aged in medium-toast Allier and Vosges oak (50% of it new) for 12 months. Annual production is less than 500 dozen and the wine is recognised for its depth, complexity and longevity.