The Beaujolais and its reds may be known first and foremost for their exuberance, but with ten crus and spread across nearly 15,000 hectares, the region’s many  terroirs are capable of expressing many personalities beyond silky, high-toned  quaffers. One of the region’s great examples of Gamay’s more structured, noble, and earthy side is Château Thivin’s Côte de Brouilly. Originating along the steep slopes of Mont Brouilly in an incredibly unique soil of pierre bleue—a strikingly blue  volcanic stone—this flinty rouge vividly evokes the mountain’s special terroir. Notes of brambly fruit, pomegranate, and spice dance atop a minerally foundation, making for a wine that exudes both the convivial charm of Gamay and the crunchy intensity of the Côte de Brouilly. Thivin is not only the Côte’s benchmark domaine but also one of the great estates in the entire region.