Friday, November 6, 2026 red wine review is a lovely Gamay from the Moulin-à-Vent Cru in Beaujolais that was featured as the Wine of the Month in the recent LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It was also included in the feature story on wines to stock up on for the holidays!
It is produced by Cave du Château de Chénas, a cooperative winery based in the commune of Chénas, in northern Beaujolais near the border of southern Burgundy. The historic wine cooperative has its roots in a large vaulted cellar, dating back to 1730, which is among the largest in Beaujolais and naturally maintains a constant temperature of 13°C year-round. In 1821, the property and its cellar were acquired by Adrien Delahante, who subsequently built the present Château de Chénas in the style of a large Italian villa.
In 1934, a group of winegrowers led by founding President Louis Sylvestre purchased the château, cellar, and part of the surrounding vineyards, establishing the Cave du Château de Chénas cooperative. The cooperative also owns approximately 4.9 hectares of vineyards in Moulin-à-Vent and 0.25 hectares in Chénas. Initially, there were 40 winegrowers representing 44 hectares of vineyards. Today, more than 80 winegrowing families cultivate approximately 200 hectares, most of which are located on hillsides. Additionally, 180 members bring their grapes to the cooperative for vinification and marketing. In total, the cooperative produces more than 10,000 hectolitres of AOC wines, with the majority coming from the Chénas and Moulin-à-Vent Crus, while also producing smaller quantities from the other eight Beaujolais Crus.
This red wine is from the cooperative's Cœur de Granit (Heart of Granite) range, which features a selection of grapes from its oldest vines, producing smaller berries. Furthermore, wines in the Cœur de Granit range undergo longer vinification and ageing. To craft this Gamay, the grapes were grown in the Moulin-à-Vent Cru, where the homogeneous soils include pink granite, limestone, marl, and sandstone. It was traditionally vinified using semi-carbonic maceration and aged in stainless steel tanks to preserve the freshness and vibrant fruit character.
In 2023, the growing season in Beaujolais began with alternating cold, warm, and wet conditions over the first three months of the year, leading to budbreak on schedule without any bouts of frost. April and May alternated between cold and wet or hot and dry conditions, with successful flowering taking place in early June. Hot and sunny weather in June and July resulted in early véraison and expectations of an August harvest. However, August turned cool and wet before warm, sunny weather returned towards the end of the month, ultimately leading to an early harvest in September. Yields were up 20% over the previous year, and the vintage produced wines emphasizing purity of fruit, aromatics, and balance. Following a second consecutive outstanding vintage, let's see how this 2023 Gamay from the Beaujolais Cru of Moulin-à-Vent is tasting tonight...
100% Gamay Noir. The fresh, medium-high intensity nose has savoury herb aromas followed by hints of earthy red berry, strawberry, cran-cherry, currant, red plum, peppery spice, and cocoa notes. The light-to-mid-weighted palate is ripe, crunchy, and gently structured with delicious red berry, strawberry, cran-cherry, black cherry, currant, and spice flavours surrounding a core of savoury earth and cocoa. It has fresh and lively acidity, along with light, fine-grained tannins with good structure. Well-balanced throughout, while the long finish is savoury and juicy. Shows best at a slightly warmer temperature of 16°C and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts
Other lovely wines by Cave du Château de Chénas can be ordered through their Agent - Vinexx.
It is produced by Cave du Château de Chénas, a cooperative winery based in the commune of Chénas, in northern Beaujolais near the border of southern Burgundy. The historic wine cooperative has its roots in a large vaulted cellar, dating back to 1730, which is among the largest in Beaujolais and naturally maintains a constant temperature of 13°C year-round. In 1821, the property and its cellar were acquired by Adrien Delahante, who subsequently built the present Château de Chénas in the style of a large Italian villa.
In 1934, a group of winegrowers led by founding President Louis Sylvestre purchased the château, cellar, and part of the surrounding vineyards, establishing the Cave du Château de Chénas cooperative. The cooperative also owns approximately 4.9 hectares of vineyards in Moulin-à-Vent and 0.25 hectares in Chénas. Initially, there were 40 winegrowers representing 44 hectares of vineyards. Today, more than 80 winegrowing families cultivate approximately 200 hectares, most of which are located on hillsides. Additionally, 180 members bring their grapes to the cooperative for vinification and marketing. In total, the cooperative produces more than 10,000 hectolitres of AOC wines, with the majority coming from the Chénas and Moulin-à-Vent Crus, while also producing smaller quantities from the other eight Beaujolais Crus.
This red wine is from the cooperative's Cœur de Granit (Heart of Granite) range, which features a selection of grapes from its oldest vines, producing smaller berries. Furthermore, wines in the Cœur de Granit range undergo longer vinification and ageing. To craft this Gamay, the grapes were grown in the Moulin-à-Vent Cru, where the homogeneous soils include pink granite, limestone, marl, and sandstone. It was traditionally vinified using semi-carbonic maceration and aged in stainless steel tanks to preserve the freshness and vibrant fruit character.
In 2023, the growing season in Beaujolais began with alternating cold, warm, and wet conditions over the first three months of the year, leading to budbreak on schedule without any bouts of frost. April and May alternated between cold and wet or hot and dry conditions, with successful flowering taking place in early June. Hot and sunny weather in June and July resulted in early véraison and expectations of an August harvest. However, August turned cool and wet before warm, sunny weather returned towards the end of the month, ultimately leading to an early harvest in September. Yields were up 20% over the previous year, and the vintage produced wines emphasizing purity of fruit, aromatics, and balance. Following a second consecutive outstanding vintage, let's see how this 2023 Gamay from the Beaujolais Cru of Moulin-à-Vent is tasting tonight...
Tasting Note:
CAVE DU CHÂTEAU DE CHÉNAS COEUR DE GRANIT MOULIN-À-VENT 2023 - AOC, Beaujolais, France (#648477) (XD) - $23.95100% Gamay Noir. The fresh, medium-high intensity nose has savoury herb aromas followed by hints of earthy red berry, strawberry, cran-cherry, currant, red plum, peppery spice, and cocoa notes. The light-to-mid-weighted palate is ripe, crunchy, and gently structured with delicious red berry, strawberry, cran-cherry, black cherry, currant, and spice flavours surrounding a core of savoury earth and cocoa. It has fresh and lively acidity, along with light, fine-grained tannins with good structure. Well-balanced throughout, while the long finish is savoury and juicy. Shows best at a slightly warmer temperature of 16°C and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts
Other lovely wines by Cave du Château de Chénas can be ordered through their Agent - Vinexx.
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