Moulin-à-Vent Clos des Thorins 2020

Château des Jacques

Moulin-à-Vent Clos des Thorins
2020

Country
France
Regulated designation
Appellation origine controlée (AOC)
Region
Beaujolais
Appellation
Moulin-à-Vent
Varietal(s)
Gamay 100 %
Alcohol percentage
13%
Colour
Red
Sugar
Dry
Producer's website

About this winery

See the Château des Jacques detail page for more information on this brand

Product notes

Here the Gamay vines are spread out over richer, deeper granitic soils and the full-south exposure is optimal. This is the emblematic lieu-dit of Romanèche-Thorins - indeed, it even gave it part of its name (following in the footstep of the greatest climats of Burgundy).

Production notes

Picked and sorted by hand, then mainly de-stemmed, the grapes macerate slowly over the course of three or four weeks. Indigenous yeasts are used throughout the fermentation period, and extraction by means of both plunging and pumping over takes place on a regular basis. The wines are aged in our historic cellar for 10 months, a period spent in oak barrels, both old and new.

Tasting notes

This is a full, robust Beaujolais, with a fleshy, almost fat texture and greater longevity than any other Cru of the Beaujolais. Clos des Thorins has a deep garnet-red color and dense aromas of baked red and black fruits. This wine is powerful, deep and has elegant, long-lasting tannins. The exceptional quality of its structure preserves the fruitiness even when aged. Pairings with game terrine, barbecued meats and strong cheeses.

Press reviews

Wine Advocate

- 95 points -

William Kelley, (Vintage 2020)

A highlight of this year's range is the 2020 Moulin-à-Vent Clos des Thorins, a full-bodied, layered and vibrant wine of notable completeness and harmony. Delivering attractive aromas of cherries, mulberries, rose petals, sweet spices, licorice and soil, it's refined and penetrating, concluding with a saline finish. This is a seamless, elegant wine, despite the warmth and power of the vintage, and it will be worth following over several decades.

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Wine Advocate

- 94 points -

William Kelley, May 2020 (Vintage 2018)

One of the most charming of these lieu-dit bottlings—though it's holding back plenty in reserve—is the 2018 Moulin-à-Vent Clos des Thorins, a dramatic and expressive wine that delivers aromas of plums, crushed cassis, violets and cracked pepper. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, its generous core of lively fruit is built around a muscular chassis of powdery tannin.

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Vinous

- 93 points -

Josh Raynolds, August 2021 (Vintage 2018)

Vivid ruby-red. Pungent red and blue fruits and candied violet on the highly fragrant, mineral- and spice-accented nose. Bright, spicy and expansive on the palate, offering sappy raspberry and boysenberry flavors that show fine definition and deepen steadily with air. Seamless and broad on the impressively long finish, which features discreet tannins and repeating floral and mineral notes.

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James Suckling

- 92 points -

James Suckling, February 2023 (Vintage 2021)

Complex nose of autumn bonfires, wet earth and wild blackberries. On the medium-bodied palate the restrained tannins, mineral freshness, berry and sour cherry fruit fit together very neatly. Plenty of red beet complexity at the long, moderately dry and savory finish. Drink or hold.

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Jancis Robinson

-16,5 Pts/20 Pts-

Tom Parker, December 2019 (Vintage 2018)

Deep, granitic clay soils and a south-facing vineyard.
Wild aromatics with a touch of reduction, sweet spices, brambly fruits and white pepper. The chalky tannins are ripe and melt through the mid palate. Peppery morello cherries, sweet vanilla and succulent strawberries. Sumptuous on the finish. (TP)

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