Château des Jacques : Clos de Rochegrès 2021

Characteristics and tasting advice for Clos de Rochegrès 2021 from Château des Jacques

Tasting

Appearance

The color reveals a deep, brilliant purplish-red hue with violet highlights.

Nose

The nose opens with delicate floral notes of peony and rose, accompanied by a mineral touch. With aeration, the bouquet reveals aromas of red and black fruits (cherry, blueberry, pomegranate), rhubarb and plum, enhanced by spicy nuances and subtle hints of sandalwood.

Palate

The attack is supple and rounded, followed by a generous, concentrated texture. Fine, elegant tannins structure the palate without aggressiveness, while a beautiful freshness runs through the tasting. The finish is long and velvety, marked by a crushed-stone minerality and lightly spicy notes.

Food and wine pairings

This Moulin-à-Vent pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted meats, poultry, as well as mushroom-based dishes. It also matches very well with aged cheeses such as Brie or medium-full-flavored cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Clos de Rochegrès 2021 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature between 15 and 17°C. One hour of aeration in a decanter allows the wine to fully express its aromatic complexity. This wine can be enjoyed now but has cellaring potential through around 2045.

A high-altitude Moulin-à-Vent combining floral elegance and minerality

The estate

Founded in 1924 in Romanèche-Thorins, in southern Burgundy (Beaujolais), Château des Jacques was a pioneer of age-worthy crus crafted “in the Burgundian style” from the creation of the Moulin-à-Vent appellation: complete destemming, parcel-by-parcel vinifications, long aging in barrels, and bottling at the estate. The vineyard spans the finest terroirs of Moulin-à-Vent, Morgon and Fleurie, complemented by a Chardonnay clos. Owned by the Kopf family since 1996, it renovated its cellar in 2017 and is moving toward organic farming.

The vineyard

Clos de Rochegrès lies on the upper slopes of the Moulin-à-Vent appellation, rising to around 361 meters in altitude. This elevated position gives the vineyard an optimal southeast exposure and beneficial temperature swings that help preserve freshness. The soils are composed of shallow pink granite, enriched with clay and crossed by numerous quartz veins, giving the wine its distinctive mineral signature. The vineyard covers around 24 hectares of mature vines farmed using environmentally respectful methods, with hand harvesting in small crates and controlled yields.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage proved demanding for winegrowers in Beaujolais. After a difficult winter and spring, June brought generous sunshine, enabling successful flowering. July and August delivered ideal conditions with drying winds and warm temperatures, promoting full ripening of the grapes while preserving their natural freshness. Meticulous work in the vineyard and rigorous selection at harvest meant that only perfectly healthy, ripe fruit was vinified.

Winemaking and aging

Clos de Rochegrès 2021 is produced using Burgundian methods. The grapes, harvested by hand, are carefully sorted and then largely destemmed, a practice uncommon in Beaujolais. Maceration proceeds slowly over three to four weeks with adapted pump-overs and punch-downs, allowing for gentle, complete extraction. Fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts. Aging lasts ten months in oak barrels of varying ages (new, one-wine and two-wine) from Nivernais, Limousin and Allier, complemented by time in concrete tanks, thus preserving the fruit expression while adding structure and complexity.

Grape variety

Gamay (100%).