2016 Château Moulin-à-Vent Les Verillats
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Tasting notes
Opaque ruby. Vibrant, mineral-accented cherry and dark berry scents pick up notes of succulent herbs, Moroccan spices, vanilla and candied flowers with air. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering densely packed black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors that are complemented by five-spice powder and mocha nuances. Closes extremely long and spicy, with resonating dark fruit preserve character and velvety tannins that fade steadily into the wine's juicy fruit. Give this one some patience as the oak is standing out a bit right now.
Critic scores
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Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
(This cuvée used to be called Croix des Vérillats; new name from 2016 vintage.) From a single lieu-dit. Pink granite with shallow soils. Lots of silica – reflects the light and doesn’t degrade easily therefore not so much clay. Windy so the sugars are concentrated. Winds are very important here, says owner Édouard Parinet, especially high up in the cru. 33% aged in tank, 67% in barrel, none new. Greyish crimson. Much more dusty/rocky mineral aroma than their blended Moulin-à-Vent; dark finesse, dark fruit without sweetness. Wine opens up more quickly than the other single-site wines. Almost austere in its freshness and dry texture, paper-fine but upright. Lightly peppery. (JH)
Fragrant and complex, this is a sophisticated Moulin-Ã -Vent thatâs got good structure, as well as well plenty of sour cherries. The touch of tannin at the finish is already well integrated. Drink or hold.
Formerly known as the Croix des Vérillats, the 2016 Moulin-à-Vent Les Vérillats unfurls in the glass with notes of plummy, spicy fruit and creamy new oak. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, with melting tannins and creditable concentration and acidity given the difficult year, concluding with a wood-inflected finish.