Daniel Bouland Beaujolais Masterclass Pack

Most of Bouland’s offerings are technically old-vine, but it’s only this and the Délys cuvée below that celebrate the age of the vines on the label. This again comes from Corcelette but from vines on granitic sand soils (‘Sable’ means sand). The vines here were planted in 1926, so it’s truly a Vieilles Vignes cuvée. It is the sister wine, if you like, to the Cailloux (rocky) cuvée.

Despite the vine age the winemaking remains the same, so what you have here is the depth, intensity and personality coaxed from some of Morgon’s oldest vines. The value here is off the charts. It’s such a jubey, fine and pretty wine. If it was from the Cote d’Or you’d swear you were in Chambolle.

94 points

“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.” - William Kelley (The Wine Advocate)

The 2019 is from Bouland’s recently acquired parcel in the lieu-dit called Pré Jourdan, which sits on the Morgon-Fleurie border. Bouland now farms a tiny parcel here of 70-year-old vines, just enough to fill a single large cask (a five-year-old Rousseau foudre in this case). The soils here are predominantly granitic sand, although they run deeper than in Bellevue and Corcelette providing Bouland with a fleshier and very aromatic Morgon to add to the range. Expect waves of succulent, fleshy fruit, very fine tannins and a long, perfumed finish. Superb.

93 points

“Aromas of cherries, blackberries, cassis, dark chocolate and smoked meats introduce the 2019 Morgon Pré Jourdan, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and generous wine with an ample core of nicely concentrated fruit, succulent acids and fine, elegantly chalky tannins. As readers will remember, this new cuvée—which debuted with the 2018 vintage—derives from a lieu-dit near the village in the direction of Fleurie.” - William Kelley (The Wine Advocate)

The majority of Daniel Bouland’s old bush vines are rooted within the Morgon climat of Corcelette, in the hilly Haut-Morgon to the northwest of the appellation. Within this area there are a number of lieux-dits that Bouland now bottles separately, and Bellevue is one of these. It’s a southeast-facing, particularly stony site (‘Cailloux’ means rocks or rocky), with plenty of schist running through the granitic, sandy base soil (much like in the Côte du Py). The plethora of rocks on the surface traps and radiates warmth, and as a result, this is Bouland’s earliest-ripening site. The vines were planted in 1951 and 1987.

It is made exactly the same way as all of the Bouland wines: natural, whole-bunch ferment, concrete tank/foudre élevage and no fining. This is fascinating to compare directly with the Sable (sand) cuvée. Here, there’s more plum and blackcurrant depths, and also a smoky, hot-rocks kind of mineral profile. Long and strong, this is going to age beautifully.

94 points

“Derived from older vines in rockier soils, the 2019 Morgon Bellevue Cailloux is even more sensuous and textural than its Sable counterpart. Mingling notions of raspberries and plums with hints of rose petals and spices, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, its powdery tannins almost entirely cloaked in succulent, perfumed fruit.” - William Kelley (The Wine Advocate)

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 Tête Noire. It’s this volcanic blue schist that lends the wines of this Cru their unique mineral profile. Bouland’s 0.8-hectare parcel is planted at 12,000 vines per hectare and, as with all of Bouland’s cuvées, this is a wine born from low yields and natural, whole-bunch fermentation.

Again, this is super energetic and red-fruited—all raspberries and red cherry fruit—but there is also an intense smokiness which brings wonderful complexity. The finish is perfumed with a pinch of refreshing tannins. Stunning purity. Put this in a Burgundy glass to remind yourself that Beaujolais is indeed technically part of that region.

92 points

“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.” - William Kelley (The Wine Advocate)

Perched between Morgon and Fleurie at around 400 metres above sea level, the vineyards of Chiroubles are the highest in Beaujolais. The vines sit on the upper slopes and in general terms produce a Beaujolais that can be, to quote Gerald Asher, all “…lacy texture and sleek charm.”

Bouland’s Chiroubles has a bit more stuffing then that. It comes from a 0.65-hectare parcel of 35- to 45-year-old vines on the steep, ridged incline of Chatenay, on the typical granite and sandstone soils of the Cru. Protected by a nearby forest, it’s a warm, north-facing site. The 2019 is super bright, red fruited and floral but also has a twist of inky reduction (for now) adding complexity and added spice. God-damned juicy deliciousness already, it will certainly also age well in the three- to eight-year window (at least).

92 points

“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.” - William Kelley (The Wine Advocate)