Described as sitting "squarely in the upper tier of Beaujolais producers" by Josh Raynolds of Vinous, Daniel Bouland ranks among a handful of profound vignerons crafting powerful and age worthy Cru Beaujolais, these highly rated 2021 selections solidly on par with anything you'd taste from the Cote d'Or and recognized by Beaujolais fans and fanatics as best in class.
Based in the hamlet of Corcelette in the Morgon Cru, winemaker Daniel Bouland fastidiously cultivates his eight hectares by hand, the sustainably farmed vineyards planted with old vines in a diverse range of exceptional terroirs mostly in Morgon with smaller parcels in Cote-de-Brouilly and Chiroubles. Hand-harvesting the grapes and vinifying whole bunch clusters with natural yeasts in concrete vats, the wines are then aged in his tiny cellar in either concrete or neutral large oak foudres and bottled without filtration, yielding robustly layered Cru Beaujolais with engaging earthy aromas over a rich core of fresh fruit and enticing granitic minerality, structured to enjoy over the next decades. Described as "layered and charming" by the Wine Advocate's William Kelley, the 92 pt. 2021 Daniel Bouland Morgon Pre Jourdan comes from Bouland's most recently acquired parcel of 70-year-old vines on the Morgon-Fleurie border, a small production gem that's barely enough to fill a single cask. Named after Daniel's daughter, the "full-bodied, fleshy and succulent" 92 pt. 2021 Cote de Brouilly Cuvee Melanie is sourced from 70-year-old vines in a mix of schist and granite on the southern slope of Mont Brouilly, while the 94 pt. 2021 Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Sable comes from a single hectare of vines planted in 1925 on the steep hillside just above his cave, this top cuvee a "more classically proportioned Beaujolais" according to Kelley with exceptional aging potential. From the lieu-dit Les Delys in Corcelette with vines planted over 40 years ago in pink granitic sand, the "deep and brooding" 94 pt. 2021 Delys Vieilles Vignes represents "a terrific achievement from Bouland" according to Kelley, reflecting the lieu-dit's signature roundness and rich texture.
Traditionally crafting bold, complex, and long-lived Cru Beaujolais that are a reference point for the appellation, these 2021 selections from Daniel Bouland are priced well below similarly scored Red Burgundy, a limited offer requiring quick action and summed up well by Josh Raynolds of Vinous: "Bouland has steadily developed a dedicated following that makes his wines difficult to track down. They're more than worth the effort given their consistent quality, which is about as high as it gets in Beaujolais…For the money, these are simply some of the greatest values in French wine today."
One cuvée that really doesn't miss a beat in this more challenging vintage is the 2021 Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Sable, a medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy wine evocative of plums, sweet berries, spices and forest floor. Layered and concentrated, with an enveloping core of fruit and melting tannins, it will delight readers nostalgic for more classically proportioned Beaujolais.
94 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Aug 2022)
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