Domaine Thillardon
– Beaujolais, France
Paul-Henri Thillardon was the student of Jean-Louis Dutraive, one of the grandmasters of the Gamay. At the young age of 22 he founded his own estate and Domaine Thillardon is currently one of the most esteemed wineries in the Beaujolais region. Together with his brother Charles, they began their journey in 2008 with a commitment to organic farming.
The Beaujolais is celebrated for its rolling hills, diverse terroirs, and varied microclimates, allowing winemakers to create a wide array of wine styles, from fresh and fruity to complex and structured. Beaujolais is popular and accessible. Jon Bonné writes: “If Burgundy was a love poem, Beaujolais was sex talk, and thus had enough obvious populous appeal that snobby types were bound to turn their backs on it (even if they found themselves drinking a lot)”.
Domaine Thillardon’s wines are never pretentious but are complex enough to satisfy any wine snob’s tastes. Its vineyards are a mix of clay, granite, and quartz soils that contribute to the complexity of their wines. Today, they cultivate 12 hectares producing wines that are both sincere and irresistible.
The vineyards are hand-harvested, and the grapes are chilled before fermentation. Whole bunches are fermented without additives, and the wines undergo gentle maceration without pumping over or punching down. The wines are then aged in a mix of concrete tanks, enamel steel, and old barrels.
This vineyard is not just about vines; it’s a bustling farm filled with cows, horses, chickens, pigs, and bees, creating a vibrant ecosystem that enhances the quality of soil and therefore the grapes.
Cultivation: 12 ha
Varieties: Mainly Gamay; small parcels of Chardonnay
Approach: Biodynamic, agroecological, and minimal intervention in winemaking
Sulfites Added: no
