Clef du Bief
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3 to 10 years from the vintage, though exceptional vintages can comfortably age for up to 15 years.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Classic Coq au Vin, roasted duck breast, or an artisanal charcuterie platter featuring rillettes and soft, earthy cheeses.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the prestigious Moulin-à-Vent cru in Beaujolais, the Domaine de la Clef du Bief is a jewel in the portfolio of the legendary Georges Duboeuf, who spent his life championing the region's unique terroir. The estate's name, translating to 'Key of the Millrace,' evokes the historic watermills that once dotted this landscape. Crafted from 100% Gamay, this wine benefits from the unique pink granite soils rich in manganese, which naturally limits yields and imparts a remarkable depth, structure, and mineral intensity. Unlike lighter Beaujolais styles, Clef du Bief undergoes traditional vinification that results in a robust, deeply colored red displaying dark cherry, violet, and spice notes, frequently drawing comparisons to fine Burgundy Pinot Noir as it matures.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1964 by Georges Duboeuf, often celebrated as the 'King of Beaujolais', Les Vins Georges Duboeuf is headquartered in Romanèche-Thorins in the Beaujolais region of France. The négociant house revolutionized the region's global profile by championing estate-bottled wines, forging deep partnerships with artisanal growers, and popularizing the annual Beaujolais Nouveau phenomenon worldwide. Managed today by the Duboeuf family, the house remains committed to expressing the nuanced terroirs of Gamay across the ten Beaujolais Crus—such as Moulin-à-Vent, Morgon, and Juliénas—alongside curated bottlings from the Rhône Valley and Pays d'Oc.
🍇 Grape Varieties
100% Gamay