In the beating heart of Beaujolais, Domaine Anthony Thevenet embodies a unique fusion between the glorious past and the irresistible allure of the present. This young virtuoso of the art of winemaking, shaped by experience and inspired by tradition, is a true rising star.
Anthony Thevenet's adventure began with humility, passing through the cellars of two legends: Georges Descombes and Jean Foillard. Seven years alongside Descombes educated him in the nuances of natural winemaking, while five years alongside Foillard named him among the masters of Beaujolais. In 2013 he launched his first vintage, but his path has been marked by trials, such as the scorching vintage of 2015 and the annus horribilis of 2016, when a hailstorm razed much of the harvest to the ground.
With a predilection for wines that embody strength, structure and emotional depth, Anthony Thevenet embraces both the ancient tradition of the large 600 liter barrels, which he uses to produce his "Vieilles Vignes" labels, and the innovation of young vines, with labels simply "Morgon" and "Chénas". His influence is not limited to the masters who preceded him, but extends to the generations before him, such as Jean-Louis Dutraive and Yvon Metras, as well as to new talents emerging in the world of Beaujolais.
The vineyard of Domaine Anthony Thevenet is an organic farming laboratory, managed with artisanal methods. Anthony and his father, Guy, work by hand, and their mechanical horse, a small tractor used to pull a metal blade, is the ideal companion in the fight against weeds, without disturbing the precious microbes and beneficial insects of the soil. Anthony's father, Guy, gave up his career as a Mercedes mechanic to support his son's passion and talent, now dedicating himself full time to the vineyards. Here no chemical treatments are used, only copper and sulphur, following the ancient organic and biodynamic practices, embracing the natural wine community.
Each bottle produced by Domaine Anthony Thevenet is a celebration of land and art. Whole-cluster fermentation and the use of indigenous yeasts preserve the essence of the grapes, while "infusion" fermentation adds structure and depth. No clarification or filtration intervenes to change the nature of the wines.
Family legacy is at the heart of this adventure. With the passing of his grandfather, Anthony and his father forcefully embraced organic viticulture, converting part of their nine hectares of land and planning to convert the remainder. In 2014, they acquired a small plot in the prestigious Côte du Py and, in 2016 and 2017, they leased vineyards in Beaujolais Village and Chénas.
Morgon, located in the heart of the ten cru communes of Beaujolais, is the chosen terroir of Domaine Anthony Thevenet. Here, the semi-continental climate offers long, hot summers and cold winters, creating an ideal environment for Gamay, a grape capable of generating fine and elegant wines, but also robust and structured wines.
The geology of the Beaujolais Crus is an ancient history, sculpted by the rocks of the Massif Central, with acidic soils, such as granite, volcanic rocks and metamorphic schists. Morgon, unlike the rest of the region, is known for its Côte du Py, a terrain dominated by extremely hard metamorphic rocks, such as schist, which give Thevenet wines an extraordinary mineral intensity and a unique structure.
The Côte du Py is a pearl among the hills, characterized by poorly fertile soils and very hard rocks, which give the wines surprising power and concentration.
From these rugged rocks emerge wines that defy time and tradition, embracing the best of the past and present. Domaine Anthony Thevenet is destined to be a shining beacon among the greats of Beaujolais.
