Château Thivin - Côte de Brouilly 2023 (750ml)
Price: $39.99
| Producer | Château Thivin |
| Country | France |
| Region | Beaujolais |
| Varietal | Gamay |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Sku | 201809 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Château Thivin Description
It is no surprise that Château Thivin is the benchmark domaine of the Côte de Brouilly; everything about it is exceptional. Built in the fifteenth century on an ancient volcano which juts out steeply into the valley below, Thivin is the oldest estate on Mont Brouilly. Even more important, however, is its tremendous success since farmer Zaccharie Geoffray purchased the château with its two hectares of land at auction in 1877. His son Claude expanded the property over the next few decades, and his son, also named Claude, boosted the prestige of the zone in the face of the Great Depression when he played a pivotal role in the creation of the Côte de Brouilly appellation. With his wife Yvonne, he also helped to bring greater recognition to the entire region with the establishment of the Maison du Beaujolais in 1953. Over the years the family continued to promote the appellation, receiving many influential artists and journalists at the château. The French novelist, Colette, wrote admiringly of her visit to Thivin, for example.
Thivin’s Côte de Brouilly parcels are predominantly south-facing and are planted entirely with Gamay vines that average 50 years of age. The soil is plowed and composted regularly while cover crops are left between some rows to encourage microbiotic activity. Absolutely no insecticides are used. On a slope with a grade of 48% and crumbly surface, implementing these techniques is essential to safeguard the soil from erosion, but it isn’t easy! Each section of the vineyard is harvested and vinified separately to preserve the unique characteristics afforded by variations in exposure and altitude. Even the estate’s vineyards in the Brouilly appellation are planted on a moderately steep hillside of decomposed pink granite, while most of the appellation is planted on the flat valley floor. Traditional whole-cluster fermentation keeps the characteristic fruity qualities of Gamay, after which the grapes are transferred to cuves by gravity without being crushed. Each vintage spends a few months in large oak foudres before bottling.
Wine Advocate: 90 Points
The 2023 Côte de Brouilly crafted for Kermit Lynch is unfiltered and similar to the chateau’s version though with differing percentages of the parcels blended in. It bursts with expressive aromas of crushed violet petals, wild cherry and forest berries, accented by hints of cacao powder and sweet soil. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a lighter weight and an infused fruit character, with rounded tannins that provide gentle resistance, building up in tension as it progresses to define the finish. Delicate and approachable, this wine can be enjoyed in the near term, though a few years in bottle certainly wouldn't hurt.
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