Our next stop was at Chateau Thivin and we paused here after trying the wines and had lunch. Claude Geoffray is the winemaker and Evelyne Geoffray is considered to be one of the best cooks in the region. Truly spectacular food. The best lentils I have ever had. This is not the Beaujolais that you buy in November or that plonk that Louis Jadot puts out. This is grown in Cote de Brouilly, an ancient volcano that exists on the Beaujolais valley floor. One side of the slope is pink granite and the other side is blue stone. The winery has been in existence since the 15th century and Claude is a sixth generation winemaker. All organic & 100% Gamay. Gamay is a descendent of Pinot Noir and Goais. A small parcel of Goais still exists in Switzerland. Claude is trying to plant some on the hill.
Tasting order:
2008 Brouilly - Ruby red, really light nose, good minerality and acidity. Lively fruit. Slight bit of tang that I don't like about Gamay in this wine.
2008 Cotes de Brouilly - Bright and ruby red as well, but much deeper in color. Slight hint of pepper and spice.
2008 Cuvee Zachary Cotes de Brouilly - Cuvee Zachary is aged in small barrels and made from the best grapes selected from the different parcels. This was really exceptional.
2009 Brouilly - I love being able to tell how good a wine is going to be from tasting the barrel sample. 2009 is going to be a good year.
2009 Cotes de Brouilly - Also a nice surprise
2000 Cuvee Zachary - Great legs, not much color variation for a 10 year old Gamay.
1991 Something he used to make similar to Cuvee Zachary...really well done considering I'm drinking a 20yr old Beaujolais
An old wine press
Claude Geoffray
Crystalized wine scraped from inside the barrels
An old basket press
1991 and 2000 Thivin
The spread
The spread
Pink Granite
Evelyne Geoffray
Blue Rock
Nicole Chanrion
Nicole Chanrion was our next stop and perhaps the sweetest woman I have ever met. How can we not sell her wines? Not only were they exceptional examples of Gamay, but made from such a gentle soul. Even though we had just eaten lunch at the previous stop and were stuffed with meats, cheeses and lentils, Nicole had prepared some snacks for us and we couldn't turn them down because she had made them herself and was just too sweet to refuse.
Tasting order:
N/V Cotes de Brouilly (sparkling)
2008 Cotes de Brouilly - Much deeper in color than Thivin, great structure and body...really good stuff. Minerally and pepper
2009 Cotes de Brouilly - she pulled this right out of the barrel while we were standing there....great stuff. I love '09!
Look how cute she is!!!
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