Chateau Thivin has to be one of the most iconic estates of the Beaujolais. Dating back to the 14th century, this modest but utterly beautiful chateau exudes history. The original 2 hectares, purchased by Zaccharie Geoffray in 1877, have grown to 24 hectares today, still owned by the Geoffray family. Claude-Edouard, and his wife, Sonja, are now in charge of the day-to-day running of the estate and wine-making.
Determined to work as ecologically as possible, the estate is certified Organic and the Geoffrays employ natural grassing, flower strips, eco-grazing by sheep, light tilling beneath the vines, together with the regular addition of compost and natural products to stimulate the vine’s defences, all helping to maintain and improve the biological activity of the soil.
The estate is ideally situated, surrounded by three very different terroirs, all equally interesting: a volcanic terroir on the Côte de Brouilly, surrounded by a granitic terroir in Brouilly, and further south, the clay/limestone soils of Theizé.
The exceptional “blue rock” terroir on the steep slopes of the Mont Brouilly gives the Gamay a spicy minerality and solid structure. This terroir produces complex wines, powerful and elegant, with very good keeping potential.
The “Golden Stone” of southern Beaujolais, well drained by gravel and slope, is perfectly suited to Chardonnay, revealing mineral purity and an elegant finesse.
