Single‑parcel Chénas from Domaine Thillardon: whole‑cluster, semi‑carbonic Gamay from the Les Blémonts lieu‑dit on clay and manganese, perfumed yet structured and very food‑friendly.
Unfiltered and unfined Gamay from the Cru of Chénas. The Gamay grapes are grown on clay and manganese soils. The wine shows an intense nose of dense fruit. The palate is serious and deep with very ripe fruit flavours. The long finish displays stunning bitterness and power. This is what we expect from the best Chénas, and Domaine Thillardon does not disappoint us. These are definitely wines to watch.
Notes on the producer
Brothers Paul-Henri and Charles Thillardon, who have positioned themselves as the future of Beaujolais' smallest, sleepiest cru, Chénas. In 2008, Paul-Henri Thillardon began making wine from 3ha of vineyards, with the conviction that Chénas has always been unjustifiably overshadowed by Moulin-à-Vent. He has slowly added new parcels to form the 12ha he works today. From the start, he has farmed organically, working some of the vineyards with a horse and using biodynamic treatments. In 2009, he met Fleurie winemakers and lynchpins of the Fleurie natural winemaking scene, Jean-Louis Dutraive and Yvon Métras, who took the young Paul-Henri under their wing. With the dedication and attention to detail of the Thillardons, the future of natural Chénas is in good hands.
