Beaujolais: top-scoring Brouilly & Côte de Brouilly 2018 wines
After tasting more than 110 Beaujolais wines from 2018, Andy Howard MW says the vintage is one to enjoy with the Brouilly & Côte de Brouilly crus producing wines that lean towards a muscular and full-bodied style.
See the full Beaujolais 2018 cru vintage report
Individual cru analysis and top-scoring wines for:
Morgon | Moulin-à-Vent | Fleurie | Saint Amour, Regnie, Julienas and Chenas
Brouilly & Côte de Brouilly 2018
Looking at the 2018 vintage in Beaujolais there is plenty to celebrate with many of the region’s crus producing outstanding wines after a hot, dry growing season.
With 1,300 hectares under vine Brouilly is the largest Beaujolais cru and its vineyards skirt around Mont Brouilly in the south of the region.
Brouilly comprises six separate communes which in total account for 20% of the Beaujolais cru area.
Soils are varied and include pink granite, limestone-marl and clay, and the wines lean towards a muscular and full-bodied style.
Despite being the largest cru it hits the high spots on fewer occasions than many other AOPs.
The most southerly of the cru, Brouilly has a wide range of producers and soil types.
Wines range from simpler, juicy, easy to drink styles to a few vielles-vignes bottlings which are moving towards fine-wine territory. At the top level there is undoubtedly ageing potential and purity of fruit allied to freshness and terroir influence. Generally, earlier-drinking and approachable.’
Known for producing some of the region’s finest and most complex wines Côte de Brouilly is situated on the volcanic slopes of Mt. Brouilly above the Broilly appellation.
On the slopes of Mt. Brouilly, there are more fine wines here than neighbouring Brouilly. Blue stones (schist and volcanic diorite) impart a distinct flavour with additional complexity.
Many wines have a silky mouthfeel but remain easy going and pleasurable. With some concentrated examples, this is a cru to watch.
Top producers include:
- Chateau de La Chaize (Brouilly)
- George Descombes (Brouilly)
- Chateau Thivin (Brouilly and Côte de Brouilly)
- Alex Foillard (Côte de Brouilly)
- Pierre Cotton (Côte de Brouilly)
See Andy Howard MW’s top Brouilly & Côte de Brouilly 2018 wines
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Château de la Chaize, Lieu-dit La Chaize Monopole, Beaujolais, Brouilly, Burgundy, France, 2018
A deep, profound and intense Brouilly - this is a fine wine in any company. From a Monopole dating back to the late 17th Century,...
2018
Château de la ChaizeBeaujolais
Domaine Laurent Martray, La Folie, Beaujolais, Brouilly, Burgundy, France, 2017
An exciting wine from the up-and-coming domaine of Laurent Martray, this Brouilly has great purity and interest yet weighs in at only 12.5% alcohol. There...
2017
Domaine Laurent MartrayBeaujolais
Château de la Chaize, Lieu-dit Brûlhier, Beaujolais, Côte de Brouilly, Burgundy, France, 2018
Deep in colour with oak evident on both nose and palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and generous Cru Beaujolais. Brulhier is an 0.5ha lieu-dit...
2018
Château de la ChaizeBeaujolais
Domaine Nicolas Boudeau, Pierreux, Beaujolais, Brouilly, Burgundy, France, 2018
A very different style to the Garanches wine from the same producer. Bigger, broader and more voluptuous on the palate, there is plenty of soft,...
2018
Domaine Nicolas BoudeauBeaujolais
Domaine Nicolas Boudeau, Garanches, Beaujolais, Brouilly, Burgundy, France, 2018
There's plenty of intensity here with dark, briary, characters on the palate and a hint of violet on the nose. A fine Brouilly which has...
2018
Domaine Nicolas BoudeauBeaujolais
Domaine Joncy, Inattendu, Beaujolais, Côte de Brouilly, Burgundy, France, 2016
Dating back to 1619, the domaine is based in Quincie. En-route to Organic certification, the estate utilises sheep and cows in the vineyard. This fine...
2016
Domaine JoncyBeaujolais
Château de la Terriére, Cuvée Jules du Souzy Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais, Brouilly, Burgundy, France, 2015
A deep, brooding 2015 which is at its peak now. A much more serious Beaujolais with masses of dark berry and plum fruit, more than...
2015
Château de la TerriéreBeaujolais
Château de la Chaize, Lieu-dit Chavannes, Beaujolais, Côte de Brouilly, Burgundy, France, 2018
There is plenty of concentration and substance in this elegant yet powerful Côte de Brouilly. Needs another 6 months to fully integrate. Warming spices and...
2018
Château de la ChaizeBeaujolais
Château de la Chaize, Lieu-dit Combiliaty, Beaujolais, Brouilly, Burgundy, France, 2018
Dark, mineral dominated Brouilly with violet notes on the nose and a liquorice note on the palate. Serious, complex and brooding, this is a very...
2018
Château de la ChaizeBeaujolais
