Château du Moulin-à-Vent : Le Champ de Cour 2024

The Granite Precision of Château du Moulin-à-Vent

The Estate

Château du Moulin-à-Vent was founded in 1732 in Romanèche-Thorins, in the heart of Beaujolais, and took the name of its appellation in 1936. Since 2009, the 30-hectare estate has belonged to the Parinet family: Jean-Jacques Parinet is the owner, while his son Édouard oversees management alongside oenologist Brice Laffond. Converted to organic and biodynamic farming, the château has relied on its own massal selection since 2015 and cultivates 23 distinct terroirs, including six great lieux-dits that are vinified separately. It has been named among the world's best estates by Wine & Spirits magazine.

The Vineyard

The Champ de Cour lieu-dit extends over approximately 3.2 hectares at the foot of the mill hill, within the Moulin-à-Vent appellation, at an altitude of close to 220 metres. Facing east and relatively sheltered from the prevailing winds, the vines grow on deep granitic soils enriched with a high proportion of clay and alluvial deposits, which force the roots to dig deep in search of nourishment. With an average age of 35 years, they are fan-trained on wires, following the principles of organic farming and biodynamics, with a high planting density and deliberately limited yields.

Vinification and Ageing

To produce Le Champ de Cour 2024, the grapes are hand-harvested and then ferment for about three weeks in stainless steel tanks, with 10% whole-cluster fruit adding aromatic relief to the wine. After fermentation, nearly 30% of the volume is aged for twelve months in French oak barrels, while the remainder continues to develop in tank to preserve the purity of the Gamay fruit and the expression of the granitic terroir. This vintage also marks the first certified organic harvest for this parcel of the château.

Grape Variety

Le Champ de Cour 2024 Château du Moulin-à-Vent is 100% Gamay, the sole grape variety of the Moulin-à-Vent appellation, grown here on vines farmed organically and biodynamically.