Wine of the Week: 2009 Domaine Diochon Moulin-à-Vent ‘Cuvée Vieilles Vignes’

2009 Domaine Diochon Moulin-à-Vent ‘Cuvée Vieilles Vignes’

Now that all the folderol over Beaujolais Nouveau is long gone, we can start drinking the real stuff: cru Beaujolais. And this Moulin-à-Vent from Domaine Diochon’s old vines is definitely worthy. What beautiful Gamay, from what growers are calling a great, great vintage. If they could make a wine like this every year, a good part of my cellar would be Beaujolais.

Tasting of plum, dark cherries and earth, it’s intense and tightly focused, with the tannin to age.

Beaujolais is the wine for any and all occasions. Roasting a chicken? Break out this bottle for chicken with 40 garlic cloves, or a Chinese chicken salad or Thai larb. It can take the heat — and the bold flavors. Grill up some pork sausages or a burger and pour some of this.

— S. Irene Virbila

Quick Swirl

Region: Beaujolais, France

Price: $19 to $22

Style: Rich and full-bodied

What it goes with: Roast chicken, Chinese chicken salad, grilled sausages, burgers

Where to find it: K&L Wine Merchants in Hollywood, (323) 464-9463, https://www.klwines.com; San Diego Wine Co. in San Diego, (858) 586-9463, https://www.sandiegowine.net; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454 and (800) 76WINEX, https://www.winex.com; and the Wine House in West Los Angeles, (310) 479-3731, https://www.winehouse.com