Domaine Les Fines Graves/Jérôme Janodet - Romanèche-Thorins
The late Jacky Janodet was known as an artisan producer of first-class Cru Beaujolais. In the venerable region of Moulin-à-Vent, Janodet’s 17.2-acres of vineyards with their high percentage of very old vines, yield wines which are incredibly rich and powerful for Beaujolais, often improving with several years in bottle. Today, Domaine Les Fines Graves is ably run by Jacky’s son, Jérôme. The domaine continues to produce excellent wines from the Beaujolais-Villages, Chénas and Saint-Amour appellations. However, it is Moulin-à-Vent, traditionally know as the "king" of Beaujolais wines for its powerful, full-flavored character that reigns at this estate. Deep, brooding and quite Burgundian in nature, this is one of the most masculine and age-worthy of all Beaujolais wines. Jérôme also has a separate domaine in Chénas, the Domaine des Vieilles Caves. Here he makes a sumptuous Saint-Amour from a small plot of 75- to 100-year-old vines once owned by his grandfather. A mere 200 cases are made each year.