2022 Chateau Thivin Cote De Brouilly La Chapelle 750Ml Bottle

This plot is at the top of the slope (altitude 450mt) has a huge proportion of 70-80yo bush vines and as you can see from the picture it is steep (with a 50% + slope)! With the site’s angle to the sun these grapes from 2022 were very ripe (14% alc.) but the very cold nights protected the acidity and it has a great balance with vibrant freshness. This is really a grand cru if ever there was one in Beaujolais! Burgundy logic would state that thin soil and high altitude would make a more perfumed, finer boned but very vibrant red with great acidity, not one like this which has more to do with, say Clos Vougeot, than Beaux Monts further up the slope in Burgundy heartland. Sonja says yes, but this slope is a sun trap making ripe deep rich wines and it’s lucky that we have cold nights! This is the probably the best La Chapelle ever, with the juxtaposition of ripe red and black berry fruits, spicy currants, pepper, and then some finer more seductive elements of Asian spice, woodsmoke, autumnal and rose petal notes. The body is full, palate is long, tannins ripe, fine; and firm, and the balance is superb.
95 pts. – Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com