Daniel Bouland Morgon, Chiroubles e Cote de Brouilly 2019's

“… this estate is one of my personal reference points for the Beaujolais. At this address, 2019 has turned out beautifully: generous and elegantly fleshy but also finer-boned than the exuberantly fruit-driven 2018s. William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Robert Parker)

Daniel Bouland has become one of our top French producers over recent years. The quality level he achieves and value he delivers, at the most serious end of wine growing, is remarkable. Daniel works on his own, managing almost 7 hectares of stunning old vineyard land in (arguably) the three most important crus of Beajolais… Morgon, Cotes de Brouilly and Chiroubles. While most of his vineyard land is on the pink granite and schist soils of Morgon, he has two small plots in the Cote de Brouilly and Chiroubles, and we have grouped the three villages here for a tour of the highest level of Cru Beaujolais.

Bouland’s wines are concentrated, succulent, firm, textured and svelte. He is uber traditional, farming organically by hand and tending vineyards as old as 95 years. These are low yielding vines planted with 1m x 1m spacing, and trained low to the ground. He ferments his wines naturally, uses 100% whole bunch, and pumps over regularly to ensure there is richness, colour and tannin extracted from the skins.  

The 2019 vintage was difficult in Beaujolais, with incredibly low yields due to spring frost, a warm growing season, some late rains and hail, and a warm harvest. It’s an unusual series of events, and a vintage where you need to follow the best vignerons for quality. As William Kelley mentioned earlier, Bouland produced wines of elegant, bright and still fleshy. We prefer this style to the fuller wines of 2015 and 2017. They are a pleasure to drink young but will age comfortably for 5+ years. We hope you enjoy them.  

Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Sable 2019

This comes from the hamlet of Corcelette in Morgon, from vines planted in 1926 (Vieilles Vignes or VV means old vines) grown on granitic sand soils ('Sable' means sand).

What you have here is the depth, intensity and personality coaxed from some of Morgon's oldest vines. It has structure and power, but a pretty, floral and densely fruited character.

"The 2019 Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Sable is excellent, unfurling in the glass with aromas of cherries, plums, violets and orange rind. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and muscular, built around succulent acids and powdery tannins, it's elegantly structured and built to age, even if it's charming enough to be enjoyed young--the 2011 vintage from my own cellar is drinking brilliantly." 94 points, William Kelley, The Wine Advocate

Chiroubles Chatenay 2019

Perched between Morgon and Fleurie at around 400 metres above sea level, the vineyards of Chiroubles are the highest in Beaujolais. Comparitively the wines here are fine and sleek. Though Bouland’s. true to his style, has a bit more stuffing.

It comes from a 0.65-hectare parcel of 35- to 45-year-old vines on the steep, ridged incline of Chatenay, on granite and sandstone soil. The 2019 is bright, red fruited, floral and spice driven. It is juicy, but perhaps less dense, and will be best in 3+ years.

"Exuberant aromas of raspberries, blackberries and cherries introduce the 2019 Chiroubles Chatenay, a medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy wine that's round and enveloping, with a charming core of fruit and melting, delicately powdery tannins. It will drink well young." 92 points, William Kelley, The Wine Advocate

Cote de Brouilly Cuvee Melanie 2019

Named after Daniel Bouland's daughter, Cuvée Mélanie is drawn from a small, steep, half-hectare plot on the slopes of Mont Brouilly. The 70-year-old vines are rooted on the area's famous terres bleu (blue-tinted volcanic soils). It's this volcanic blue schist that lends the wines of this Cru their unique mineral profile.

This is super energetic and red-fruited--all raspberries and red cherry fruit--but there is also an intense smokiness which brings wonderful complexity. Put this in a Burgundy glass to remind yourself that Beaujolais is indeed technically part of that region.

"Offering up aromas of red plums, berries, raw cocoa and spices, the 2019 Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Melanie is medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety, with a fleshy core of fruit, melting tannins and lively acids. Bright and charming, it's produced from a south-facing site near Château Thivin." 92 points, William Kelley, The Wine Advocate