Domaine Jean-Marc et Thomas Bouley Volnay Vieilles Vignes 2021

Product Information:

A father and son operation Domaine Jean-Marc and Thomas Bouley are considered by many to be one of the rising stars of the Côte de-Beaune. Volnay's velvety approachability is only matched by its great aromatic intensity. Its aromas are of violet, gooseberry, cherry, and with age it develops spices, game and flavours of dried cranberry. Its fresh energy gives this wine immediate appeal meaning it can be fully open while still relatively young. The attack is fresh, the finish is warm.

This old vine Volnay was planted in 1935, 1959. Coming from 5 parcels located below 1^er Cru Carelles, it represents outstanding value at the communal level. These vines receive sun all day with a southeastern exposure on very shallow soil (1m), comprised of oxidized iron. Warm site, no wind.

In regards to winemaking, this wine is 100% de-stemmed, cooled to 14°C. Fermented for 2-3 week wild yeast in concrete or stainless steel tanks. For cap management it receives only gentle punch-downs and pump-overs. Finally it is aged 18 months on the lees in oak barrels of which only 5-15% are new. It is then racked in the spring and bottled one month later. No fining, no filtration. 

I have said this before but it bears repeating. Thomas Bouley is a first-rate young talent and I predict that you will be hearing a lot more about his wines going forward. - Burghound.

Maker:

Domaine Jean-Marc Bouley is a prestigious winery located in the heart of Burgundy, France, with a long-standing history of winemaking that dates back to the early 14th century. In 1985, Jean-Marc Bouley took over the family winery after his father's passing. Today, the estate spans over 12 hectares and boasts vineyards in Volnay, Pommard, and Beaune. After gaining experience in Oregon and New Zealand's Felton Road, Thomas Bouley, Jean-Marc's son, assumed the winemaking responsibilities in 2006. The estate is renowned for producing wines that exhibit exceptional transparency of terroir, purity, and fruit density, harmonising the traditional Burgundy wine style with the New World wine style.

Philosophy:

The winery follows a philosophy of honouring the terroir by allowing it to express itself fully in the wines. The vineyards are meticulously tended, and the grapes are hand-picked to ensure the highest quality. The winemaking process is gentle and non-intrusive, allowing the wines to convey the unique character of the terroir. Pommard is a renowned wine village located in the Côte de Beaune region of Burgundy, France. The village is known for producing some of the finest Pinot Noir wines in the world.

In 2002, Thomas joins the Domain and takes the management in 2012 with a goal joining the great Domains in Volnay. With accolades from every direction, Thomas is certainly making the right moves. Historically both Volnay and neighbouring village Pommard were considered to produce bold, often tannic reds. But today we are seeing a softening of the wines, more plush and finer tannins. Proving that terroir includes the hand of the maker. Bouley’s finessed wines fit into mold.Today the Domaine has near 9Ha across 29 plots in Volnay, Pommard and Beaune. To produce its exceptional wines, it is important to have beautiful grapes. To express the minerality of the soil and geology, a good microbial life is essential. To nurture this, Bouley uses neither weedkillers nor chemical fertilisers. Further all vines are ploughed, keeping the soils light and aerated. The manual work of pruning, de-budding and trellising have evolved to keep only 6 to 8 bunches of grapes per plant and evenly spaced. The harvest is by hand, and all grapes are then sorted at the winery on a vibrating table. The fermentation takes between 2 and 3 weeks. Diverse decisions are made to adapt to the vintage and to each appellation. Ageing is done entirely in oak barrels and will take from 15 to 20 months.

Nose - Smoky Dark Fruits, Blood Orange, Subtle Cedar
Notes of cherries, red berries, blood orange and peony.

Palate - Savoury, Spicy, Fleshy
Followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy palate that’s rich and pure.

Finish - Sweet Powdery Tannins, Mineral, Cranberries
Finishes with sweet powdery tannins, fresh and jubilant.

 I often have a preference for the ethereal Clos de la Cave, but this year, it’s the 2021 Volnay Vieilles Vignes that gets my nod as Bouley’s finest communal-level bottling. Derived from vines that see all-day sun and little in the way of breeze and located in the red clay soils below premier cru Carelles, it opens in the glass with notes of cherries, red berries, blood orange and peony, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy palate that’s rich and pure, framed by sweet, powdery tannins. It attained 13.1% natural alcohol, an impressive feat in this vintage. - William Kelley, RobertPaker.com, 92 Points.

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - France
Region - Burgundy
Vintage - 2021
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13%