Chateau Thivin Cote de Brouilly Cuvée Zaccharie – 2020

This is Chateau Thivin’s top cuvee and comes from a mix of vines between 40 and 100 years old grown on the volcanic soils of the Cote de Brouilly. It was matured for 12 months in used French barriques and is surprisingly rich, full bodied and structured for a Gamay, yet has typical fresh, fine acidity. It is built to last for 10 years ++

“Aromas of rich berry fruit, plums, sweet spices, vanilla pod and orange rind introduce the 2020 Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Zaccharie Geoffrey, a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered wine that’s serious and concentrated, with lively acids and a long, sapid finish. While this cuvée can sometimes be quite overtly marked by its élevage in barrels, the sheer intensity of the 2020 seems to be well on the way to absorbing its oak.” 93pts The Wine Advocate

“As I’ve written before, this historic estate continues to rank among the reference points for classical, age-worthy cru Beaujolais. The Geoffray family have banished herbicides and insecticides from their vineyards and number among the appellation’s most conscientious farmers, working toward organic certification (something they’ve already attained for several cuvées, as indicated in the tasting notes). In the cellar, winemaking is traditional, with semi-carbonic maceration and élevage generally in foudre—though some small cuvées see a little new wood. A staple of France’s best restaurants—and this writer’s table—any readers who are not acquainted with these wines are warmly advised to seek them out.” The Wine Advocate