2024 Domaine Anita Moulin-à-Vent La Rochelle

Anita Kuhnel was a former professional cyclist. With the same drive, she now dedicates all her energy to crafting Beaujolais wines at Domaine Anita. Anita uses only high-quality terroirs for this purpose. She uses these to create wines from the Gamay grape, which have already received high scores from renowned critics, including Robert Parker, James Suckling, and Wine Enthusiast. Suckling (99/100) writes about the 2022 vintage: " They build and build to an almost overwhelming climax in the fabulously long and impeccably balanced finish ." The Gamay grapes for this Anita Moulin-à-Vent La Rochelle come from the lieu-dit 'La Rochelle' in the Moulin-à-Vent appellation. This vineyard is situated on pink granite soil, at an altitude of 240 meters, and faces south/southeast. The vines are 50 years old. The grapes are hand-picked and selected in the vineyard. 100% of the grapes are destemmed and first cold-soaked for four days. Fermentation then begins, with the 'cap' (the skins that float to the surface) pressed down daily to extract more flavor and tannins. Fermentation lasts for 24 days. After fermentation, the wine is aged for six months in a combination of oak barrels and cement tanks. In the glass, the Anita Moulin-à-Vent La Rochelle is ruby red with a purple glow. On the nose, this delightful wine has intense notes of black cherries, dried flowers, black pepper, and earth. On the palate, it's concentrated and rich, with very juicy acidity, soft tannins, and a strong mineral finish. Delicious with roast venison. Very limited. - This Beaujolais masterpiece is so concentrated and so pure, with lush, velvety sensuality that reminds me of great Pomerol. But there's also almost breathtaking brightness, thanks to the magical combination of gamay and granite. Great mineral freshness at the ripe yet pristine finish." - James Suckling - This wine comes from one of the top vineyards in Moulin-à-Vent. With bold structure and a strong mineral texture from the pink granite soil, the wine has aging potential. The black fruits are still young and need to mature further. Drink from 2024." - Wine Enthusiast - Domaine Anita's 2018 Moulin-à-Vent La Rochelle reveals a rich bouquet of cherries and plum preserve, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy palate bursting with dark fruit that largely conceals its youthfully chewy tannins." - 91 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate on the 2018 vintage - Dark berry and damson fruit aromas on the nose. Quite a lot of chewiness on the palate, ripe and concentrated. Drinking Window 2021 - 2028" - 90 points, Decanter about the 2019 vintage - Lurid ruby. Candied red and blue fruit and floral pastille scents are complicated by hints of violet and licorice. Sappy black raspberry and blueberry flavors blend power and finesse and take on a spicy nuance with air. Closes long, broad and gently sweet, with building tannins and an echo of ripe blue fruit." - 90 points, Vinous about the 2018 vintage