Jay Kline

9.1

Brought to Au Courant from our cellar to celebrate our daughter’s 15th birthday. As far as I can tell, 2009 was the first commercially available vintage of Thibault’s foray into Moulin-a-Vent so this was fun to try since I’ve been a big fan of his work there.

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service. The 2009 VV pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity and some light staining of the tears. There were some signs of sediment but most had been decanted off. On the nose, the wine is…well…pretty wild with notes of horse blanket and there’s just a touch of varnish in there too. For me, it’s teetering on the edge of, “is this charming or is this overbearing”? However, since there was more there than just a cow pasture and I don’t get any gerbil cage, I’ll leave this in the “charming” camp but I digress…back to the notes from the nose. The wine is developing, with dark crunchy berries, dark cherries, sandalwood...some pepper, some leather and light notes of potting soil. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. The first glass showed a touch of effervescence like there could have been a slight refermentation in the bottle. Confirming the notes from the nose though it seems cleaner on the palate with some granite minerals on the finish. Interesting, it’s almost like this was semi-carbonic but as far as I know, Thibault has been making these wines using the same methods as he does his GC wines in Nuits-Saint-Georges so I don’t know. And this is why I like this wine. It’s making me think...and it’s been enjoyable throughout the meal, working particularly well with our strip steak. Yum! A really fun wine for those that enjoy something a little more rustic. That being said, I know it wouldn’t have pleased everyone. There is plenty of gas left in the tank and while this drinks very well now, I would expect that this will continue to drink well through 2029 with ease. — a year ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Surprising Gamay with a classic and classy style, evoking Burgundy by its light side as much as the northern Cote-du-Rhône by its density. The aging in oak barrels is admirable for the way it supports the fruit without masking it. A beautiful bottle with an aging potential of at least 10 years.

Gamay surprenant au style classique et classieux, évoquant la Bourgogne par son coté léger autant que la cote-du-Rhône nord par sa densité. L’élevage en fût de chêne est admirable par la manière qu’il a de soutenir le fruit sans le masquer. Une belle bouteille avec une potentiel de garde de 10 ans au moins. — 4 years ago

Fredybeans

9.3

Robe noire, nez grillé et mine de crayon et long
A besoin d air vin au profil aromatique noir — a year ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.1

Very pretty racy Moulin-à-Vent, which pinote, with the intensity expected on this appellation and the crunchy character of the gamay which is perfectly expressed here in tones that are both refined and lively. Notes of red fruits, cherries, flowers, sweet but intense spices, pepper in front. Complex and mineral finish. Can age and evolve even more favorably in the Burgundian style over the next 5/10 years, maybe more!

Très jolie Moulin-à-Vent racé, qui pinote, avec l’intensité attendu sur cette appellation et le caractère croquant du gamay qui s’exprime ici à merveille dans des tons à la fois raffinés et vifs. Notes de fruits rouges, cerises, fleurs, épices douces mais intenses, poivre en avant. Finale complexe et minérale. Peut vieillir et évoluer encore favorablement dans le style bourguignon au cours des 5/10 prochaines années, peut être plus! — 2 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Gastronomic style. Pleasant appreciation of aging with toasted, spices. Almost oily mouth texture, ample style. Lacks a little freshness to hang the tasting.

Bouteille au style gastronomique. Agréable appréciation de l’élevage au style toasté, épices. Texture en bouche presque grasse, style ample. Manque un peu de fraîcheur pour accrocher la dégustation. — 3 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.1

Beautiful purple / garnet color. Fine and complex nose, fruity and floral: peony rose. Deep on the palate, somewhere between a beefy Burgundy Pinot Noir and a Syrah from Rhone-Nord; to be mistaken. At first glance discreet, the finish reveals itself on tender and finely persistent tannins. The whole is very homogeneous and dense. A wine with a Burgundy style, delicate, which will be able to age for a number of years.

Belle robe pourpre/grenat. Nez fin et complexe, fruité et floral: rose pivoine. Bouche profonde, quelque part entre un pinot noir bourguignon et une Syrah du Rhone-Nord; à s’y méprendre. La finale de prime abord discrète, se révèle sur des tanins tendres et finement persistants. L’ensemble et très homogène et dense. Un vin au style bourguignon, délicat, qui pourra encore vieillir pas mal d’années. — 4 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.0

Still nice but at the end of the line. Better a few years ago.

This is the Au Michelon @Delectable Wine — a year ago

Jeff Thompson

9.9

A really wonderful Alsace Riesling. — 2 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Pretty Moulin-à-Vent in typical style of the appellation. Deep ruby color, rich but discreet multiple nose, with notes of raspberry, pepper, herbs (vetiver), undergrowth. Fine mouth. A wine with discreet charm and many subtle nuances that amateurs will appreciate. Great finesse. Can still age 5/10 years.

Très jolie Moulin-à-vent dans style typique de l’appellation. Robe rubis profond, nez multiple riche mais discret, aux notes framboise, poivre, végétal (vétiver), sous-bois. Bouche fine. Un vin au charme discret et de nombreuses nuances subtiles que les amateurs sauront apprécier. Grande finesse. Peut encore vieillir 5/10 ans. — 3 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

One of the most successful cuvées of the domain, which gives to taste the possible junction between Beaujolais and Burgundy. Wine with a simple and delicious refinement. The woody notes blend harmoniously with Gamay and terroir notes. All in nuances with a beautiful airy aromatic concentration.

Une des cuvées les plus réussies du domaine, qui donne à goûter la possible jonction entre Beaujolais et Bourgogne. Vin au refinement simple et gourmand. Le boisé se mêle harmonieusement au gamay, et aux notes de terroir. Tout en nuances avec une belle concentration aromatique aérienne. — 4 years ago