Description
“These were absolutely superb expressions of traditional Beaujolais: serious wines that I suspect will age as well as their more expensive counterparts further north in the Côte de Nuits. They represent outstanding value in the current market…” Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate
“This tiny wine grower of the hamlet of Corcelette… has seduced us for a few years now with his concentrated and textured Morgons. The fruit weight in no way masks the almost wild minerality of the soil. These wines have an intensity that can only come from old vines that are impeccably cultivated…The domaine has produced a 2014 vintage of real quality. The level is superb and the wines are currently imbued with juicy fruit and sincerity.” La Revue du Vins de France
Daniel Bouland is a fourth-generation Morgon grower and his tiny (only 8 ha!) vineyard is now recognised as one of Beaujolais’ yardstick addresses. Surrounding the small town of Villié-Morgon, the vineyards of Morgon are divided into a seven climats: Côte de Py, Les Micouds, Javerniere, Les Grands Cras, Les Charmes, Corcelette and Douby. The majority of Daniel Bouland’s old bush vines lie within Corcelette, in the hilly Haut Morgon to the northwest of the appellation. Bouland farms a number of old-vine parcels in this terroir, where (in general) the sandy granite soils over weathered schists tend to result in wines of great perfume and finer, rounder tannins than those of the nearby Côte de Py.
About this wine: 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) within the lieu-dit of Tête Noire, directly above Château Thivin. The blue schist lends the wines of this Cru their unique mineral profile. Bouland’s 0.8-hectare parcel is planted at 12,000 vines per hectare. As with all of Bouland’s cuvées, this is a wine born from low yields and natural, whole-bunch fermentation.
2022 was an outstanding vintage in Beaujolais, considering the vintage could be summarised as hot and dry the main takeaway from the year is how fresh and racy the wines are. Bouland is renowned for producing superbly balanced wines even in these warmer years. Unlike 2020, when the lack of water resulted in thick skins, little juice and deep, structured wines, 2022 was completely different. Although an August harvest once again, alcohol levels are lower than in 2020, and the fruit is more vibrant and balanced. The only clue to the nature of the year is how irresistible the wines already are. Again true to form, tasting these thrilling wines reminded me that Daniel Bouland is definitely one of France’s great growers.
As you would expect from this terroir, it’s more baritone than Chiroubles, sporting darker, plusher fruit and deeper spice notes. Regardless, it’s super fine; that core of lip-smacking mineralised blue fruit is perfectly framed by refreshing chalky tannin.
94 points, Kasia Sobiesiak, The Wine Front “Short, straight to the point note on this simply delicious wine. This is beauty and the beast. Violet, ozone, blood, fresh fig, blue-skinned fruit. Tense palate, dark volcanic rock texture and a steely, almost oyster shell aftertaste. Grace and power.” 2/4/2024
RRP $64 *Our Special Price $51.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
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