2019 Domaine des Moriers Moulin-a-Vent

Moulin-à-Vent has long held the title of Beaujolais' most serious cru, and this bottling from François de Nicolay's tiny Domaine des Moriers makes a compelling case for why. Crafted from old-vine Gamay grown on granite-rich soils straddling the communes of Fleurie and Moulin-à-Vent, it carries the weight and grip you'd expect from the appellation, but never loses its sense of freshness. Red currant, cherry, and a hint of earth lead on the nose, with blueberry and rose adding a lovely floral lift — the kind of complexity that makes you pause mid-sip. The estate sources from small, organic plots across some of the region's best villages, and that care in the vineyard translates directly to the glass: this is Gamay that rewards both a casual weeknight pour and a proper sit-down at the table. Structured enough to age, alive enough to open now.