CHÂTEAU MOULIN SAINT GEORGES
2017 Grand Cru Saint Emilion
The first in a wonderful tasting of wines from the Vauthier stable at Ausone. This (mostly) survived the frost where Haut-Simard, Simard and Fonbel did not. It has a beautifully fresh dark cherry, blackberry and violet nose. The oak (100% new) does come through but the fruit is so bright it's not overdone. Really pure and crunchy on the palate with super-fine tannins and a lovely fresh finish. A really glugable Saint Emilion that will be drinking almost as soon as it arrives. Drinking range: 2021 - 2035 Rating: 90-91 L&S (May 2018)
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The 2017 Moulin Saint-Georges has turned out nicely. Plump, juicy and forward, the 2017 will drink nicely right out of the gate. Inky blue and purplish fruit, licorice, spice and floral overtones are front and center in this mid-weight, supple Saint-Émilion from the Vauthier family. Drinking range: 2020 - 2032 Rating: 90 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Mar 2020)
The 2017 Moulin Saint-Georges, which was bottled in April 2019, has a tight and backward bouquet with brambly red fruit, briary, cedar and light peppery aromas. It does not have the "oomph" of other vintages, though that is in keeping with the growing season. The palate is medium-bodied with a very citric opening. As I remarked out of barrel, I would have liked the season to have conferred more complexity, particularly on the finish. But as such, it is a wine that keeps within its limits: easygoing, fresh but not cerebral. Drinking range: 2020 - 2029 Rating: 88 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2020)
The 2017 Moulin Saint-Georges was picked on 26 and 29 September. It has a pretty black cherry and cassis-tinged bouquet, a little tight at the moment, a tad pinched compared to previous vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannin, dark berry fruit tinged with brown spices, cohesive towards the finish but it just needs to muster more complexity overall. This year, I much prefer Vauthiers’ La Clotte. Drinking range: 2021 - 2032 Rating: 87-89 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2018)
Owned by the Vauthier family of Château Ausone. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Fermented in tank and aged 18 months in 100% new oak. Deep cherry red. Spicy, lively blackcurrant fruit on the nose. Lots of sweet fruit and sweet oak on the palate. Juicy fruit in the middle. Bright and lively. Just a little too sweet-tasting for refreshment (hence the minus). Tannins a touch chewy but not at all tough. Drinking range: 2022 - 2028 Rating: 16- Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2018)
The dark-berry and wet-earth character is pretty. Medium body, firm and silky tannins and a fresh finish. Solid acidity. Rating: 89-90 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2018)
From the Vauthier family of St Emilion, this was the lowest of their vineyards not to have been decimated by frost, which has knocked out Château Haut-Simard, Château Simard and Château Fonbel in this vintage. The harvest here was September 26th for the Merlot which is 80% of the blend, and the 29th for the Cabernet Franc, which accounts for the other 20%. The yield was 36 hl/ha, a very 'unfrosted' figure. It has a very pretty aromatic profile, smoked red plum with a chalky violet and peony perfume. The palate has a rather gentle presence, fresh, cool, with a delicate texture, a nicely integrated and ripe but still broad and firm grip, with pretty plum-skin and plum-stone fruit, together with a rather gentle texture. The finish is long and charged. More delicate in texture than I am used to with Moulin Saint-Georges, but still a charming, bright and fresh style. The élevage will be in 100% new oak. Rating: 90-92 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2018)
Château Moulin Saint Georges
Owned by Alain Vauthier, Château Moulin Saint Georges is situated in Saint-Emilion and covers 7 hectares. The vineyards are well sited on the south-west facing 'Pavie' slope. The average age of the vines on this slope is 26 years old, and they are planted at a density of 6500 vines/hectare. Vauthier believes that the quality of his wine is a direct result of how well the vines are tended to, therefore yields are kept extremely low in order to concentrate the flavour, and all grapes are hand-harvested to ensure only the best grapes are used in production.