Thillardon Chenas Chassignol 2022

Thillardon Chénas Chassignol 2022 is a beautifully expressive Beaujolais cru that shows just how serious Gamay can be in the right hands. From a steep, high-quality single vineyard in Chénas, this wine combines finesse, energy and depth in a style that is both authentic and incredibly drinkable. It stands out for its old-vine concentration, low-intervention winemaking and the purity of fruit that has made Thillardon one of the most sought-after names in Beaujolais.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2022 Chassignol is a vibrant, translucent ruby with a youthful sheen and fine, slow-moving legs. The nose is perfumed and intricate, offering an enticing mix of wild red berries, crushed raspberries, cherry, rose petals and violets, layered with hints of wet stone, subtle spice, dried herbs and a touch of forest floor. On the palate, the wine is silky yet precise, with a lively, mouthwatering acidity that carries pure red fruit—think wild strawberry, red currant and sour cherry—wrapped around a fine, chalky-tannin structure. There’s a beautiful interplay between fruit and savory notes: subtle pepper, tea leaf, and a stony, mineral backbone that speaks clearly of its hillside origin. The finish is long, bright and saline, suggesting both immediate pleasure and the ability to age. Enjoyable now with a short decant, this vintage should evolve gracefully over 6–10 years, gaining complexity and earthy, truffle-like nuances with time in bottle.

Production
Chassignol is a steep, high-altitude lieu-dit in the Chénas cru of Beaujolais, characterized by decomposed granite, sand and stones that naturally limit yields and give wines their tension and minerality. Thillardon farms these parcels organically with a strong biodynamic influence, favoring manual work in the vineyard, cover crops and careful canopy management to maintain balance and freshness in warmer vintages like 2022. Harvest is done entirely by hand, with strict sorting to keep only perfectly ripe, healthy bunches. In the cellar, whole clusters are typically used for a gentle, semi-carbonic maceration, extracting fine tannins and aromatic lift rather than heaviness. Fermentations occur with native yeasts, and the wine is raised in neutral vessels (cement or older barrels) to preserve purity of fruit and terroir expression, with minimal sulfur added at bottling and no unnecessary fining or filtration.

Food & Serving
This Chénas is an exceptionally versatile food wine, pairing beautifully with roasted poultry, duck breast, charcuterie, veal, pork dishes, and classic bistro fare such as coq au vin or grilled lamb chops. It also shines alongside mushroom-based dishes, lentils, soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert, and lighter game birds. Serve at 14–16°C to highlight its freshness and aromatic detail; if too warm, a brief chill will bring it back into focus. Young bottles benefit from 30–45 minutes in a decanter or a good swirl in large Burgundy stems to open up the floral and mineral notes.

Producer
The Thillardon estate is one of the new reference points in Beaujolais, particularly in the lesser-known but increasingly celebrated cru of Chénas. Led by brothers Paul-Henri and Charles Thillardon, the domaine has steadily built a reputation for precise, transparent expressions of Gamay rooted in organic and biodynamic farming. Since taking over their family holdings and expanding into top sites such as Chassignol, they have championed low-intervention winemaking that lets each parcel speak for itself. Today, Thillardon is widely regarded as a leading voice in the renaissance of Beaujolais, with their single-vineyard bottlings frequently highlighted by sommeliers and critics for their elegance, drinkability and strong sense of place.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.