Anthony Thevenet
Beaujolais, France
by Anthony Thevenet
"I completely understand why Josh (Raynolds) was so enthused by Thévenet – these wines quietly blew me away." Neal Martin - Vinous
At just 35, Anthony Thevenet's position in the wine industry is both fortunate and deserved. Before inheriting 3ha of the family domaine vines in Morgon from his grandfather, Anthony had already spent 7 years working under Georges Descombes while completing his viticulture degree, and later under Jean Foillard while beginning his eponymous label.
Like his mentors and prior generations that have influenced his expression of Beaujolais, he favours old vines (some nearing 160 years in Morgon), organic viticulture, rigorous fruit sorting for the highest quality and a natural, yet flawless approach to winemaking. Zero corrections and less than 5 ppm of sulphur added only at bottling. The resulting wines are clean, highly emotive interpretations of Beaujolais combining lift and structure.
Purity, complexity and elegance grace the simply regional labelled wines raised in concrete, and even greater depth and sophistication in the Vieilles Vignes wines matured in oak.
Thevenet inherited the Morgon property in 2010 and immediately began organic farming with the help of his father Guy, releasing his first vintage in 2013. Early reviews within the industry gave insight that the Thevenet name would continue to signal exceptional Beaujolais for years to come. (Though no relation to Jean-Paul).
1 ha of Côte du Py was acquired in 2014, followed by leasing small plots in Lancié (Villages) and Chénas in 2016/17. The same principles are followed in these vineyards as Morgon, old vines ranging 50-90 years, tended to by the hands of Anthony and Guy using organic practices. Managing vineyards across appellations is possible as the entire Beaujolais region is only 54km from top to bottom.
2019 Morgon
SE to SW facing slope, granitic and very sandy soils create a elegant, subtle wine endowed with great length and complexity from 60-80 year old vines. 10 days carbonic maceration in concrete and rested in concrete for 6 months. Only racked at bottling with <5 ppm sulphur added.
2018 Morgon Vieilles Vignes
80-150 year old vines slightly further up the SE to SW facing slope, schist and shallower granitic sandy topsoil. 25 days carbonic maceration in concrete and rested in 600L old oak for 8 months. Only racked at bottling with <3 ppm sulphur added.
2018 Chénas
50 year old vines on a soft slope with deep pink granite sand and gravel topsoil, a combination that makes for wines with great aromatic lift, mineral intensity and depth. 10 days carbonic maceration in concrete and rested in concrete for 6 months. Only racked at bottling with <5 ppm sulphur added.
2017 Chénas Vielles Vignes
"look out for his wonderful 2017 Chénas Vieilles Vignes, which overcame hail damage to produce a very cohesive and harmonious wine that should age extremely well in bottle." Neal Martin - Vinous
80 year old vines from the same deep pink granite soft slope. 25 days carbonic maceration in concrete and rested in 225L old oak for 7 months. Only racked at bottling with <5 ppm sulphur added.
