Château Thivin - Les Griottes de Brulhié 2018

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Château Thivin is currently renovating its vineyards, with a focus on soil management. In organic conversion, trellising on the steepest plots, such as La Chapelle, is now the rule. The range is wide: fruity whites and reds, Côte de Brouilly (Sept Vignes, Griottes de Brulhié). The magnificent trio of Godefroy, Chapelle and Zaccharie particularly impressed and moved us this year. A priority for wine lovers and an address for great wines.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Côte de Brouilly 2018 Les Griottes de Brulhié comes from a sunny, steeply sloping, southeast-facing site. Brimming with aromas of cherries, blackcurrants, smoked meats, spices and wild berries, it's medium- to full-bodied, enveloping and succulent, with an openness that reveals its potential despite some still-young tannins.

About the domain :

This historic estate continues to set the standard for classic Beaujolais cru worthy of its age, and the 2019 vintage is a great success here. As I wrote last year, the Geoffrays have banned herbicides and insecticides from their vineyards and are among the most conscientious farmers in the appellation, working towards organic certification. In the cellar, vinification is traditional, with semi-carbonic maceration and ageing generally in tuns - although some smaller cuvées see a little new wood. A staple of France's finest restaurants - and this writer's table - all readers unfamiliar with these wines are urged to seek them out. This year, the Brouilly Reverdon deserves a special mention, as it's particularly good.