Moulin des Chênes is run by Laurent Bréchet of Château de Vaudieu. Laurent and his brother, Julien, had always admired the potential of Lirac in the Southern Rhône. When the owner of the 25 hectare Moulin des Chênes vineyard retired, the brothers jumped at the chance to take over the estate.

Lirac lies to the west, across the river from Châteauneuf-du-Pape with a viticultural heritage that is just as impressive. Conditions for the two areas are similar, both have over 2,500 hours of sunlight per year and a dry growing season that ensures consistently ripe, flavoursome wines. Lirac also has stony soils, with ‘galets roulés’ pudding stones supported by red clay underneath. The main difference is the influence of the Mistral, which is slightly milder in Lirac.

The wine is made from 37% Cinsault, 36% Syrah, 16% Grenache and 11% Mourvèdre. After fermentation in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks, the wine is kept in underground concrete vats for 10 months before bottling. The resulting wine is soft and generous in body, full of primary fruit and freshness, with a long, mellow finish. Lirac has a more forward, earlier-drinking style and offers remarkable value when compared with the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.