Description
“I have bleated on about the brilliance of Thivin’s Côte de Brouilly, in my mind one of the finest offerings from Beaujolais, an exemplary expression of Gamay from one of its most propitious terroirs. In summary, it is onwards and upwards from Château Thivin.” Neal Martin
“It is no surprise that Château Thivin is the benchmark domaine of the Côte de Brouilly; everything about it is exceptional.” Kermit Lynch
Château Thivin, nestled in the heart of Beaujolais on the slopes of Mont Brouilly—a small extinct volcano—traces its origins back to the 12th century. The first part of its manor house was built in the 14th century, and in 1383, the initial section of its cellars was established, making it the oldest Côte de Brouilly estate and one of the region’s most respected wine producers. Since Zaccharie Geoffray acquired the château in 1877, the vineyard has remained in the family, passed through generations of Claudes, with Claude-Edouarde and Sonja Geoffray currently at the helm. The domaine now spans 27 hectares, cultivated with great care and a commitment to biodiversity and organic practices. Most of its old, organically grown Gamay vines are planted on Mont Brouilly’s southern slopes, producing modest yields of perfectly ripened bunches. During harvest, grapes are gently placed in small crates to preserve their integrity before being sealed in vats whole, untouched for 7–10 days. Natural fermentation begins as bunches crush under their own weight, after which the juice is drained and the remaining grapes pressed. The resulting wine is matured for 6–12 months in large, old oak barrels housed in magnificent vaulted cellars. With vinifications tailored plot by plot, Château Thivin crafts expressive red wines that elegantly reflect their terroir—fleshy, pure, and woven with fine, delicate tannins.
Reverdon is a lieu-dit just southwest of Mont Brouilly near the Côte de Brouilly border, grown on granitic soils and prized for its elegance, raciness, and purity.
From the winemaker about this wine: “On a due east-facing 5.5 ha hillside, on a formation of the first foothills of the Massif Central, with a soil of friable pink granite containing little organic matter. Two cadoles (dry-stone huts), one from the 18th century, testify to the historic nature of this terroir. This is a part of the appellation that we particularly like, for the Granitic purity and its poor soils that give distinctive wines with very elegant fruit aromas.
“Grassed or tilled strips break up this terroir prone to storms, little sensitivity to diseases because of the well-drained soil, demands few treatments in Summer. The grapes are picked by hand and transported in small trays in order to preserve their quality.
“Vinification in whole bunches in our hillside cellars, whose successive levels allow us to make maximum use of gravity, so as to avoid using either pumps or conveyors for the grapes. Maceration for only 8 days in order to capture all the freshness of the fruit, matured for 7 months in cement vats.
“Beautiful cherry red colour, floral, fruity bouquet, round on the palate with fresh garden fruits; underpinned by supple tannins.”
93 points, Stuart Pigott for James Suckling “This combines the floral aspect of the appellation with dark and wonderful forest-berry fruit on the velvety, medium-bodied palate. The interplay of supple tannins, juicy fruit and moderate acidity makes this hard to resist. Long, cool and elegant finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
92 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front “Some white grapes end up in this predominately whole bunch gamay wine. From a single site. Matured in concrete and sees under two weeks skin contact. Quite a racy red with flinty, slate-like tannin and a chirpy, mineral feel amongst true raspberry, strawberry and pomegranate juices. Flickers of dusty, brown spice, a touch of terracotta, an accompanying flourish of sage leaf, curry lear and pepper. A vivacious Booj of bistro-friendly feel and a general sense of high drinkability. You’d not shy off whacking it in the fridge/in the chilled red section.”
90 points, The Wine Advocate “From a site rooted in sand over pink granite, the 2023 Brouilly Reverdon offers vibrant aromas of crushed violet and peony petals, dark cherries and a touch of chocolate spice. Medium to full-bodied, it features a concentration perfectly balanced for the structure of the wine, offering an infusion of fruit, tangy with acidity. With its pillowy texture supported by talc-like, enveloping tannins, the wine leaves a lasting impression of joy and approachability.”
89-90 points – Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy ” The pinker side of purple with an excellent classic perfumed gamay fruit. Lovely juicy fruit, with class and energy and length. Just a little pepper behind. Delicious!”
RRP $67 Special Price $55.99 when you buy 6 or more.
