Claude Geoffray is the sixth generation of his family domaine, which was purchased in 1877 by Zaccharie Geoffray, a farmer from Villefranche sur Saône. Then, it had just a couple of hectares of vines, and since has expanded greatly. Based in the Côte de Brouilly cru, this is benchmark Beaujolais: the Thivin wines are classic and structured, and repay ageing.

For the last decade, Claude has been assisted by his son Claude-Edouard, who studied viticulture and wine-making at Changins in Switzerland.

Viticulture is sustainable, heading to organics (they are almost there), with working of the soil. Winemaking is traditional, using large foudres to mature the wines, with the exception of the Zaccharie cuvée, which gets barrel treatment.

Château Thivin Beaujolais Blanc Clos de Rochebonne 2016 France
Limestone/clay soils. Stony and lively with nice freshness. Has citrus, pear and some tangerine notes. Textural, bright and expressive. 90/100

Château Thivin Brouilly ‘Reverdon’ 2016 Beaujolais, France
From pink granite. Supple, fresh and bright with red cherries, fine spices and a nice hint of green. Nice raspberry edge. Pure, classic, fine and expressive. 91/100

Château Thivin Les Sept Vignes Côtes de Brouilly 2016 Beaujolais, France
From diorite (volcanic) blue stones. Lively, spicy, mineral edge to the vivid black cherry nd raspberry fruit. Very focused with nice structure. Stony, grainy and mineral with freshness and density. A lovely wine. 93/100

Château Thivin Clos Bertrand 2016 Côtes de Brouilly, Beaujolais, France
One of the seven vineyards around the Château. Supple, open and bright with nice fresh red cherries, some raspberries, fine herbs and an open, elegant personality. Good structure here: has a smoky, mineral edge. Nice and expressive. 93/100

Château Thivin Les Griottes de Brulhié 2016 Côtes de Brouilly, Beaujolais, France
5 hectare plot in the middle of the hill. Very expressive and elegant with light, supple, bright red cherries. Supple and open with bright raspberry fruit. Vital. 92/100

Château Thivin Cuvée Zaccharie 2016 Côtes de Brouilly, Beaujolais, France (magnum)
This is pressed into small oak for the end of alcoholic fermentation and malolactic, a practice that was common in the 19th century. Some spicy, cedary oak here alongside the dense, fresh red fruits. Shows oak a bit at the moment but could age well. 90/100

Château Thivin Les Sept Vignes 2017 Côtes de Brouilly, Beaujolais, France (cask sample)
Very pure and fresh with slightly grippy raspberry fruit, some red cherries and a bit of spice. Nice tannic structure: this is firm and focused with nice density. 91-93/100

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