In Beaujolais, France

« Clos de Rochebonne » Beaujolais-Blanc

Clos de Rochebonne, Beaujolais-Blanc, Château Thivin Clos de Rochebonne, Beaujolais-Blanc, Château Thivin
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Grape varieties

Chardonnay

Terroir

This 16th-century walled vineyard is made up of the famous “golden stones” of this south Beaujolais region; it was historically attached to the château de Rochebonne standing at the summit of the village of Theizé, one of the communes of the “Golden Stones Country”. The soil is clay/limestone from the Jurassic era, which is the preferred terroir for Chardonnay. And lastly, facing due east enables it to give wines with a great deal of freshness.

Cultivation

Cultivation according to the criteria of Agriculture Biologique (organic farming). Vines trellised to a height of 2 metres, to keep a maximum leaf area, for good photosynthesis.
Grassed ground where flowers develop and attract a great many insects. Our little Ushant sheep are real environmentally-friendly mowers and help us manage the grassed areas. We use “green picking” in order to obtain a lower yield that is properly ripe and concentrated.

Certified Organic

Vinification

Hand-picking, pneumatic pressing; after slight cold clarification, the juice from the press is casked in barrels that have been used for 1–10 wines; fermentations and maturing on second lees for 8 months.

Tasting

This wine is revealed after a year in the bottle, to express a bouquet of white flowers, citrus fruits, and stone fruits like apricots or mirabelle plums. On the palate, it is underpinned by its elegant minerality, giving it suppleness and a long finish. Serve between 12–14°.

Serve with wine

This is an excellent wine for an aperitif, and marries perfectly with fresh-water fish; Pike, trout, pike-perch.

Beaujolais-Blanc «Clos de Rochebonne» Ratings and awards

2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2019
2021
2022
2023
Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate

89

James Suckling

93

«Very zesty with masses of black and some red berries. Slightly sappy tannins on the medium-bodied palate, but the wine has so much energy and fruit that it’s really well balanced. Good length. A cuvee of the fungal-resistant varieties — prior, chambourcin and souvignier gris — growing on Mount Brouilly in Beaujolais. Matured for 10 months in used Burgundian-oak casks. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.»
James Suckling

93

«This medium-bodied chardonnay has an elegance that's rare for white Beaujolais. Excellent balance of restrained creaminess, lime zest and chalky freshness right through the long finish. With a bit of aeration, white flower aromas develop. From a high-altitude parcel in the Pierres Dorées that is organically cultivated. 100% barrel fermentation and maturation in oak, of which just 10% was new. Drink or hold.»
RVF guide vert 2024

90

James Suckling

93

«This chardonnay from Beaujolais has a very Burgundian personality, the balance of oak, fruit and creaminess from lees contact. Long, delicately chalky finish with stacks of candied citrus character and excellent tension. From the Pierre Dorees area of Southern Beaujolais where there is a clay-limestone soil. From organically grown grapes. Matured for eight months on the lees in barrique oak casks. Drink or hold.»
James Suckling

92

«Smoky and flinty in the nose with classical elegance on the palate, you could mistake this chardonnay for a wine from a high-altitude site in the Côte de Beaune. Finely delineated contours, the delicate pear and lively citrus flavors leading you to the long, mineral finish. Drink or hold.»
La Tulipe Rouge

3/4

«« Bouquet engageant qui s'ouvre progressivement sur des notes d'agrumes et de chèvrefeuille avant d'évoquer des notes plus complexes de pétrichor. En bouche, les flaveurs évoluent vers la pêche et le beurre noisette pour terminer en finale sur des notes salines qui nous ramènent à la terre. Un charme ineffable. »»
La Tulipe Rouge

3 verres

«Bouquet engageant qui s’ouvre progressivement sur des notes d’agrumes et de chèvrefeuille avant d’évoquer des notes plus complexes de pétrichor. En bouche, les flaveurs évoluent vers la pêche et le beurre noisette pour terminer en finale sur des notes salines qui nous ramènent à la terre. Un charme ineffable.»
James Suckling

92

«Smoky and flinty in the nose with classical elegance on the palate, you could mistake this chardonnay for a wine from a high-altitude site in the Côte de Beaune. Finely delineated contours, the delicate pear and lively citrus flavors leading you to the long, mineral finish. Drink or hold.»
James Suckling

84

Bill Nanson
«" Clos de Rochebonne" 2017 A rounded citrus nose, perhaps a touch of oak taking any sharp edges off the shape. Big and fresh in the mouth – an attack on the palate. Palate-staining flavour here – that’s impressive. Good character, great flavour. Excellent – one of the few»
Bettane + Dessauve

15

RVF guide vert 2020

15

RVF

15

Matthew Jukes
«Clos de Rochebonne "White Beaujolais is a rarity. They are only made when soils are perfect - and in the case of «Clos de Rochebonne» they are not only perfect, they are celestially beautiful."»
James Suckling

92

«This is very rich with cooked apples, lemon rind and ripe peaches. Medium to full body. Very ripe style. Aged about eight months in old barrels with 5% new oak. Layered and delicious. Dried-pineapple character. Made from one hectare»
RVF

15/20

RVF

15/20

Hachette*

* (vin très réussi)

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