Domaine Armand Laffond
In 2017, while trying to find a Beaujolais producer to fit into our range, we had an extensive meeting and tasting at Chateau du Moulin-à-Vent with its owner Jean-Jacques, and his winemaker Brice Laffond. This is a well regarded and large scale producer with fantastic holdings across the Moulin-à-Vent appellation, however given the huge volumes they were looking to distribute into Australia, we didn’t form a business relationship.
Despite the lack of business, we formed a solid connection, often catching up at tastings, and I continue to visit them on most trips back to Beaujolais. Late in 2023, out of the blue, I received an email from their winemaker and vigneron Brice with information about his passion project. Domaine Armand Laffond. Three wines made from a 1 hectare plot in the heart of the greatest terroir in Moulin-à-Vent….. We tasted with Brice at his home on a recent trip and were blown away by the quality of these wines. Given the tiny production quantities, we import a small selection of these rare wines.
Certified Organic, Biodynamic, all hand harvested, with at least 75% whole bunch, then aged in large old barrels for 9 months . The objectives for organic and biodynamic farming are diverse: bringing life back into the vines through the creation of a refuge space for insects and the installation of nesting boxes for birds and bats, but also beautifying the landscape, creating diversity, harvesting fruits from the orchard, and one day Brice hopes to establish beehives, his second passion.
Wines Imported
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‘Our latest addition, it symbolizes the universal ability to split hairs in 4: a true Chinese puzzle,
it is the culmination of the year's experiments.’
80% red Gamay, 20% indigenous white grapes, Brice sees this wine as a perfect afternoon sip, one to sample while you’re cooking, reading a book or on a picnic. Showing fresh red fruits, it’s a lovely entry level wine.
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‘This cuvée comes from our Gamay conservatory, a sélection massale of 50 Gamay individuals sourced over the last 10 years walking across French vineyards; it takes its name from a subtle play on words, between village and grand cru names.’
With 75% whole bunch, and two thirds aged in old oak barrels for 9 months, this is complex and textural, with an open bouquet, and great length. Superb Cru Beaujolais.
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Made from the best juices of the oldest vines, planted between 1930 and 1970; this wine bears the name of the historic parcel. This parcel of 'Sous Rochegrès’ lies within the ‘Aux Caves’ terroir - one of the great terroirs of the Moulin-à-Vent appellation, classified ‘First Class’ by Antoine Budker in 1869. It is located in the heart of the wind corridor, on a granite bubble, at around 280m altitude. Brice used 100% whole bunch in 2022, producing a wine with wonderful depth of fruit, laying between red and dark fruits, this is full of intrigue and complexity with good length and spice.
