Les Griottes de Brulhié Côte de Brouilly Gamay

Gorgeous red berry fruit on the nose and some spice and a big time grapiness. Smoke as well and gorgeous wet earth. So classic. Lipstick like intensity. Palate is teeming with energy and crunch and amazing clarity to the red fruits. Long, juicy and very pure. Nice hit of opulence in the mid and very sapid finish. Succulent and so delicious. Unreal focus here. Nose is super floral now. Wow. This might be a 9.5. Overnight this goes to a 9.5 as it gets supernal balance and just unreal mouthfeel and depth. My favorite of this bottling ever.

Nose is very 15 with terrific aged character but also messy ripeness. But it’s precise. Smells really ripe with some sur maturite. Brambly. Palate is super juicy but also has those fierce 15 tannins. Tastes balanced but it’s just at the edge of balanced. 15 is good here as 15 is mess in a lot of places but it’s still the worst vintage from 10-20 at Thivin. Good length. Thick and lactic but also tannic and fresh. Fruit is dark.

Ravishing nose. Vivid Black cherry fruit. Lovely granite. Bursting blackberry. Leather. So focused and exuberant. Stunning aromas. 9.5 aromas. Palate is gamey, meaty and loaded with black cherry and blackberry but also has oodles of freshness and granitic cut. So sappy and pure. Perfect balance and incredible acidity. So cleansing and fresh. Lovely velvety tannins and super long. Best since the 14. A brilliant wine. Almost a 9.5. The energy here is incomparable. Benchmark bojo.

Such a good wine from Thivin. Maybe 50 year old vines, so middle aged. Awesome depth. Grapey, snappy, cherry, so classic. Smells like it’s bursting. And it is, blueberry, black cherry, sour cherry all form a symphony of cherries and crunch hard. Beautiful purity and freshness. A great vintage for this wine. Textured and juicy. Ripe and generous tannin suggests 5-8 years of life ahead of it. Extraordinarily long finish.

Big time 15 sunshine on the nose. Ripe bright red and black berries and cherries. They smell a bit broad to be honest. Not as precise as I like usually from this bottling. Grapey. Palate has big energy but also a bit broad and tutti frutti. Good freshness and maybe will get better with air. Just a 9.0 for now. Tannins a bit sloppy too.

Superb! Nose jumps out with tangy, tiny berries, loads of crushed granite, and a feral note. You can smell the acids! Intense and vigorous in the mouth. Lean-ish but so flavorful. Finish is so long and fresh and dripping with crushed rocks. My first of many 16s from this great producer.

Love this wine. Black fruited nose. Spicey. Mineral and some serious granite. Black cherry, damson. Terrific. Even some cranberry and strawberry. Floral after some air. The palate is the story. Such energy. Just cracking. So much granite and intense mineral drive. Snappy acids and sneaky length. Sweet sweet fruit. So concentrated, tangy and pure. Just stunning.

Gorgeous nose. Flowers, crushed granite, black cherry, sappy tangy blackberry, very fresh nose. Fragrant. High toned with lovely velvety tannin, crushed granite and lip smacking tangy cherry fruit with a citrus hint. So good. So balanced, fresh and pure. Incredibly energetic wine. Terrific.

PS had this 5 years ago

More delicious, notes later!

Nose has overwhelming black cherry mash (OMG so powerful & fruity), wet granite, fresh violets and early season raspberry.

Palate has fresh black/red cherry, a robe of velvety tannins and granite dust. The finish on this does not give up, amazing bottle from a spectacular vintage.

I'd love to drink all these now, they are so approachable, I am just stunned. But knowing how patience can change/improve Beaujolais, waiting another 6-10 years before pulling another cork will likely make this wine soar to unthinkable levels. Damn, being impatient is so much better, or is it?

A very nice counterpoint to the 2015 version enjoyed alongside.