Château Thivin - Cuvée La Chapelle 2018

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Château Thivin has begun renovating its vineyard with a focus on soil management. In conversion to organic farming, trellising on the steepest plots, such as La Chapelle, is now the norm. 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 a source of some truly great wines.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

From a relatively steep, south-facing slope at a fairly high altitude, Thivin’s 2018 Côte de Brouilly La Chapelle is a huge hit this year. In the glass, aromas of cherries, raspberries, spices, and dried roses emerge. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, layered, and multidimensional, with silky, structuring tannins, excellent concentration, and a lively, succulent acidity.

About the estate:

This historic estate continues to be one of the benchmarks for classic Beaujolais wines worthy of their age, and the 2019 vintage is a great success. 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 aging generally in large oak vats—although some small cuvées see a little new wood. A staple of France's finest restaurants—and this writer's table—any readers unfamiliar with these wines are strongly encouraged to seek them out. This year, the Brouilly Reverdon deserves a special mention, as it is particularly successful.