WTN: GaMay the Fourth - The Thivin Man

[David M. Bueker]

• 2019 Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Côte de Brouilly (2/7/2022)
  Sometimes I put a bottle of wine in a difficult situation. This 2019 Thivin was faced with an extra-spicy homemade Chicken Makhani, and some roasted butternut squash and sweet potato with smoked paprika as a side dish. Damn if it didn't step up and socialize with both of them. I think the extra richness/depth of the modern, climate-influenced era helped, as the additional juiciness provided buffering to the spiciness in the chicken, as well as a foil to the smokiness in the paprika. The creaminess of the Makhani sauce melted the little bit of tannin in the wine, making the whole pairing work on every level. I don't think a more classical, higher acid version would have worked as well (though it still would have worked), and even a bit more ripeness in the wine would not have been a problem.

...Sometimes I put a bottle of wine in a difficult situation. This 2019 Thivin was faced with an extra-spicy homemade Chicken Makhani, and some roasted butternut squash and sweet potato with smoked paprika as a side dish...

That is a difficult situation. Even without the spice, butternut squash and sweet potato can be challenging for wine. Glad that it all worked out so perfectly! (Although presumably you modulated the spice somewhat to fit the wine)

[David M. Bueker]

...Sometimes I put a bottle of wine in a difficult situation. This 2019 Thivin was faced with an extra-spicy homemade Chicken Makhani, and some roasted butternut squash and sweet potato with smoked paprika as a side dish...

That is a difficult situation. Even without the spice, butternut squash and sweet potato can be challenging for wine. Glad that it all worked out so perfectly! (Although presumably you modulated the spice somewhat to fit the wine)

Nope. I did not modulate the spice at all, except for UP!

[David M. Bueker]

2019 Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Côte de Brouilly (7/26/2022)
Why didn’t I buy a case (two cases) of this??

See my prior notes. This is just so good every time.

Thivin has become our house red, both the CdB normale and the Reverdon. It’s better than a house wine, but it’s just so inexpensive and food flexible and tasty we open it a lot.

Good to hear about the 2019, I haven’t tried any Thivin that young yet (but I did score 6 bottles of the 19 Zaccharie at ~50% off from Zachy’s).

Always enjoy Thivin.
I missed original note when posted, that is a tough spot for a wine, glad it worked out

[David M. Bueker]

Just had another bottle. Probably 10 or 11 of this wine/vintage. I have to say it’s my favorite Beaujolais of all time.

Gamay the fourth be with you!

[list][*]2019 Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Côte de Brouilly (2/7/2022)
Sometimes I put a bottle of wine in a difficult situation. This 2019 Thivin was faced with an extra-spicy homemade Chicken Makhani, and some roasted butternut squash and sweet potato with smoked paprika as a side dish.

I did something similar last week, but inadvertently, with a 1989 Madiran Montus Prestige. Before food, it was very fine in an austere old style Madiran manner. However, when choosing it, I didn't know that the lamb would be basted in honey. This turned the wine into an acidic mess. I think new style Madiran from the '10s would fare somewhat better. I think the modern tendency towards increasing sweetness in "savoury" dishes does no favours to classically styled wines, especially from the Atlantic rim. The crisis in Bordeaux may be partly explained by this.

[David M. Bueker]

That's one reason I largely avoid "sweet" sauces or glazes - unless it's an integral part of the prep (e.g., my hoisin braised pork).