Château Thivin - Cuvée La Chapelle 2013

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

A true expression of the blue rock—mineral-driven and straightforward.

About the estate:

Château Thivin has embarked on a renovation of its vineyard, with a focus on soil management. As part of its transition to organic farming, trellising on the steepest plots—such as La Chapelle—is now standard practice. The range is extensive: fruit-forward whites and reds, as well as Côte de Brouilly wines (Sept Vignes, Griottes de Brulhié). The magnificent trio of Godefroy, Chapelle, and Zaccharie particularly impressed and moved us this year. A must-visit for wine lovers and a source of truly great wines.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2013 Côte de Brouilly Cuvée La Chapelle comes from vineyards located at the top of a south-facing hill. It displays slightly more intense fruit on the nose than the Cuvée Godefroy, with a more red-fruit profile—red cherry, raspberry, and cranberry. And this cranberry note continues on the palate, revealing a delicate tannic structure and a lovely finish with notes of cherry and minerality. Who said Beaujolais couldn’t be elegant?

About the estate:

This historic estate remains a benchmark for classic Beaujolais—a wine that ages gracefully—and the 2019 vintage is a fine example of this. As I wrote last year, the Geoffrays have banned herbicides and insecticides from their vineyards and are among the most conscientious growers in the appellation, working toward organic certification. In the cellar, winemaking is traditional, with semi-carbonic maceration and aging generally in large oak casks—though some small cuvées see a bit of new oak. A staple of France’s finest restaurants—and this writer’s table—all readers unfamiliar with these wines are strongly encouraged to seek them out. This year, the Brouilly Reverdon deserves special mention, as it is particularly successful.