Family Article

The Clos de Rochegrès is a 20 acre vineyard lying near the border between Moulin-à-Vent and Fleurie on a steep, elevated slope facing due southeast. Acidic and low in organic compounds, the topsoils are shallow and granitic, with rocks in some parts. Hard bedrock lies very near the surface, especially on the upper reaches of the slope, which climbs to nearly 1,100 feet. The predominance of “grès,” a type of crumbly red sandstone lends the sand a pink hue. Despite the shallowness of the soil and the parcel’s elevated position on the hillside, underground water reserves held in cracks in the granite deter drought. The vines range from thirty to sixty years old and are planted 9,000 vines to the hectare (3,650 vines per acre). Following a hand harvest, the grapes are brought to the state of the art fermentation facility directly beneath the domaine’s manor house. Rather than the carbonic maceration technique typically used in the Beaujolais, Château des Jacques practices a traditional Pinot Noir vinification, begun by a 60 to 80 percent destemming of the clusters. The must is then chilled and held for two to five days. A 20 to 30 day fermentation with indigenous yeasts then takes place in partially sealed vats to evoke the fullest expression of the fruit and terroir in the finished wine. The cap is either pumped over or held submerged with grills to optimize extraction of color, aroma and tannin. The wine is then aged in one-third each Alliers, Limousin and Nevers oak barrels of new or up to two harvest’s use for twelve months in the cellars beneath the estate’s grounds before blending and bottling. Château des Jacques Clos de Rochegrès is an elegant expression of Moulin-à-Vent, with elegant aromas of rose, peony and subtle minerals which carry onto the palate. In the mouth, the wine is generous and tender, with sweet, ripe, lasting tannins on the finish. The wine approaches maturity in most vintages in ten to fifteen years.