2011 Moulin a Vent La Rochelle

The 2011 Moulin-a-Vent La Rochelle has a more exotic bouquet compared to the Moulin-a-Vent, with spicy red berry fruit, perhaps with just a little more volatility in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy ripe opening, smooth in the mouth, with leathery red fruit. It is balanced but perhaps missing a little vivacity and charm on the finish. Drink now-2018. Readers will remember Olivier Merlin’s reviews in my Macon report last year, but Olivier also makes wines further south in Beaujolais. To be honest, I prefer Olivier’s wines from Macon to the four Beaujolais wines that I tasted, the indisputable pedigree in Macon not quite fully translated across the “border.” Importer: Le Serbet (A Becky Wasserman selection). For importers see www.leserbet.com. Available through Berry Brothers & Rudd in the UK.