Chateau Thivin Cote de Brouilly Les 7 Vignes – 2023

This is a blend of Gamay grapes grown on Chateau Thivin’s seven vineyards on the blue clay soils of Mont Brouilly. The vineyards have been worked 100% organically since 2010 and are close to gaining biodynamic certification. 

This is Chateau Thivin’s key wine and a true reflection of the unique terroirs of Mont Brouilly. It has dark cherry fruit, spice and a real sense of minerality, and should drink beautifully until 2030.

Enjoy with roast duck, red meats and gently spicy dishes.

“The 2023 Côte de Brouilly Les Sept Vignes offers aromas of dark cherry, ginger spice and dried purple petals. Full-bodied and concentrated, the wine opens with broad shoulders, finding more shape along the mid-palate, influenced by a lining of chalky tannins that accumulate weight as it progresses, finishing with a satisfying, lasting impression of wet stones.

Château Thivin, the oldest vineyard in Mont-Brouilly, traces its origins back to the 14th century. Since 1877, the Geoffray family has proudly upheld its legacy, with Claude Edouard and his wife, Sonia, now representing the sixth generation. Spread across 30 hectares, the estate’s vines flourish in over 10 distinct plots within the Côte de Brouilly, Brouilly, Quincié and Southern Beaujolais regions. Already committed to organic farming, they go many steps beyond by prioritizing biodiversity and soil health through practices such as natural grass cover crops, minimal plowing, compost applications and eco-pasturing with sheep.

In the cellar, tradition reigns supreme. Grapes are hand-harvested and undergo traditional vinification, often with whole clusters. Aging occurs mostly in foudres, though the Cuvée Zaccharie sees time in barrels. The gravity-fed cellar design ensures gentle handling of grapes and wine throughout the aging process. What routinely stands out is their savoir faire for extraction, achieving remarkable depth and concentration without ever veering too heavy or structured, tempered to the year’s conditions.

Château Thivin’s classic wines, characterized by purity and energy, reflect the exceptional terroirs of their vineyards. In 2023, the wines lived up to that reputation—serious, in keeping with the vintage, with defined structures brimming with depth, freshness and vibrancy. In general, the wines require some further time to relax, but they promise to shine brilliantly in 2-3 years.” 90/100pts Wine Advocate