Chateau du Moulin-A-Vent Les Vérillats

2018

James Suckling 91: Ripe sour-cherry aroma and satisfying harmony of fruit, medium body, silky tannins and lively acidity, make this an attractive and quite sophisticated Moulin-à-Vent. Drink or hold.

2019

Wine Enthusiast 93: At nearly 1,000 feet, this vineyard is at the heart of Moulin-à-Vent. This wine's black fruits, ripe tannins, and spice and toast flavors from wood aging give a sense of structure and aging.

Burghound 90: Here too there are plenty of black pepper and spice nuances to the relatively elegant and ripe red berry fruit aromas. The very supple and almost soft medium weight flavors do possess good richness, indeed the mid-palate is almost seductive, while tightening up noticeably on the more robust finish that display touches of rusticity and warmth. This is a wine of contrasts as the mid-palate is plush while the moderately powerful finish is sufficiently structured to suggest that 5 to 8 years of aging would be appropriate.

2020

Burghound 91: A more expressive if still relatively restrained nose is compositionally similar though in this case, there is more spice but less floral influence. Once again the medium-bodied flavors are strikingly delicious while possessing a sleek, intense and beautiful texture, all wrapped in a dusty, compact, youthfully austere and firm finale that doesn't quite offer the overall depth and persistence. To be sure, this is certainly very good but it has stiff competition.

Wine Enthusiast 93: One of a series of single-vineyard wines from the notable estate, this full wine has power, with a dark, firm character that needs plenty of time. The wine's structure shows the intensity of a fine Moulin-à-Vent, rich and ageworthy.

Wine Spectator 92: Elegant and refined, with some real power, too. This has nice integration to the black pepper, charred apple wood and black tea notes that underscore red plum and cherry. A polished, balanced red, with good depth.