Moulin-à-Vent: Arnaud Aucoeur, ‘Tradition Vieilles Vignes’

Arnaud Aucoeur is an eleventh generation vigneron based in Villié Morgon in the centre of the Beaujolais hills. He and his wife Melanie cultivate 20 hectares of vines in Beaujolais and, although they have parcels of vines in several crus, half their vine-holdings lie within their heartland at Morgon. Arnaud is a pragmatic wine-maker with a strong respect for his family’s history and the local terroir. He tries not to intervene too much in the vineyard.

Known as the ‘King’ of Beaujolais for being one of the longest-lived expressions of the Gamay grape, Arnaud Aucoeur’s classic old-vine Moulin-à-Vent has voluptuous berry fruit flavours, a lovely floral lift on the nose, fresh acidity to underscore a touch of savoury spice and an enticing blackberry and cherry finish.