Domaine de Colette, Moulin-à-Vent, Le Mont, Beaujolais, France, 2023

Producer Profile

Domaine de Colette is located in the heart of the Crus du Beaujolais, in the charming village of Lantignié – regarded by many as the premium village in the cru of Regnié.

Run by the humble Jacky Gauthier, it was founded by his father René. Jacky studied oenology at the tender age of 17 and immediately started working with his father in the vineyards. Today he is joined by his son Pierre-Alexandre, whose invigorating youthful enthusiasm has seen a further move to full organic practices and adoption of France’s new sustainability certification in line with the family’s philosophy of ‘terroir is their true wealth’. The vineyards are home to vines averaging 45 years of age, but one plot, called Colette, averages over 80 years. For visitors, the views from the cellar and reception room are nothing short of exceptional, extending across the rolling Beaujolais vineyards and the Saône Valley to the Alps, where Mont Blanc is visible on a clear day.

Viticulture

Soils are granite-based, rich in manganese with a south-easterly exposure. The vineyards are cultivated using the Haute Valeur Environnementale approach, a stricter practice than Lutte Raisonnée with only organic manure used as well as grassing over and shallow ploughing. The soil is granitic and the vines bush-trained, with an average age of 70 years. The harvest is all carried out by hand with yields never exceeding 40 hl per ha.

Winemaking

Selective sorting of the grapes on a sorting table. After partial destemming of grape harvest (around 70% is destemmed), vatting lasts 15-18 days in order to extract as much fine tannins as possible. After pneumatic pressing, the wine is matured in vats for 10 months.

Tasting Note

A bright, luscious full-bodied wine defined by its silky tannins and evocative aromas of iris, rose petal, spice and red berries. With complexity coming from the manganese-rich granitic soils and old vines.

Food Matching

Venison chops cooked with port wine, cranberries and ginger, or simply roast lamb or roast vegetable dishes.