Moulin-à-vent, the lord of all Beaujolais crus, was hosting the Crus Festival this week-end. A very important event for the locals that see a thousand visitors coming from all sights. It’s also a good time for winemakers to catch up, kids are running everywhere, joy, good vibes and gamay!

The small hamlet “Les Thorins” was the heart of the celebration. The 10 crus all had their house and a dance, hundreds of bottles were standing : no where in the whole world it is possible to taste as Beaujolais crus as here in one day. In Fleurie, it was Charleston, and it took me a few dance steps to bring my 2012. Chiroubles gathered the crowd with some Disco, at the top of the hill the windmill was dressed up in red. Music notes were dancing at the wind speed and drums rythm to invite us to dance.

Dance, perfect theme, I had my ball dress, my hair in a bun to look for the prince. The prince here, we say it is the cru Régnié, youngest of all, that tasted particularly good at the 2005 horizontal tasting. 2005, full of life, an excellent year around here, with ripe fruits and an intense body that you can keep probably 10 years more.

On the spot, my best friends from Beaujolais, Burgundy & Champagne. A frenzy and uncorked week-end … that ended with a maravellous Saint Amour vintage 1989 and the legendary Champagne Tarlant Magnum brought by the genious Melanie Tarlant. Cheers and see you next year in Saint Amour !