Product Information:
Daniel Bouland is one of the modern rockstars of Beaujolais - his wines have a feverish cult following in France, so much so that allocations bound for Australia get tighter each year. The Chiroubles "Chatenay" from Domaine Bouland is made from vines that are at least forty years of age, with some significantly older vines also to be found here. So much perfume interspersed with berries, flowers, earth and stoney scents. It's a keeper, but you'll hardly need to wait for this as it's already overflowing with flavour and freshness.
Maker:
One of Beaujolais’ more reclusive growers, Daniel Bouland makes some of the most old-school and expressive wines in the whole of the region. Hand harvested from old Gamay vines in the Morgon lieux-dits of Corcelette, Bellevue and Pré Jourdan, Bouland’s wines are defiantly deep, dark, country-style reds with plenty of grip and overflowing with personality. These are wines that are built for the long haul, unlike so many of the wines produced in this region. Daniel himself recommends five years in bottle for the terroir to show the wine’s true sense of clarity and mineral nuance. From the best vintages, 15 years will not weary the Morgon cuvées. This is not to say they are not approachable as youngsters.
Philosophy:
His wines are staunchly traditional, fermented with 100% whole bunches and then aged in predominantly large, neutral oak. His Morgons are his most sought-after cuveés. They come from vines around 60 years on on the sandy soils, as opposed to the schist-dominant portions of the famous slope. This is a pure, delicious example of one of the region's great crus.
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, produce a Beaujolais that can be, to quote Gerald Asher, all “…lacy texture and sleek charm.” Bouland’s Chiroubles has a bit more stuffing than that. It comes from a 0.65-hectare parcel of 35- to 45-year-old vines on the steep, ridged incline of Chatenay, which has the typical granite and sandstone soils of the Cru. Protected by a nearby forest, it’s a warm, north-facing site.
Nose - Light Sappiness, Black Cherries, Black Tea Intensity
The bouquet wafts from the glass in a complex blend of red and black cherries, fresh thyme, bonfire, gamebird, black tea, brown spices, dark soil tones and a top-note of peonies
Palate - Deep Core, Mineral Notes, Ripe Gritty Tannins
with stunning depth at the core, great soil inflection, ripe tannins and impeccable balance
Finish - Good Tension, Promising Finish, Brown Spices
Long, youthful and extremely promising finish.
Raspberry perfume, cherry blossom and orange peel. It has tension in the perfume, high notes, tart fruit, blueberry pie and a hint of cinnamon. The savoury element comes in the form of blood, iodine, seaweed, salty vibration with a healthy amount of gritty, sandy tannins. A bit warm but still a lovely drop. - Kasia Sobiesiak, The Wine Front, 93 Points.
The 2022 Chatenay is a very youthful wine and is still quite marked by its stem tones, but these are augmented by outstanding depth of fruit and a superb base of soil. The bouquet wafts from the glass in a complex blend of red and black cherries, fresh thyme, bonfire, gamebird, black tea, brown spices, dark soil tones and a topnote of peonies. On the palate the wine is deep, complex and full, with stunning depth at the core, great soil inflection, ripe tannins and impeccable balance on the long, youthful and extremely promising finish. This will need at least a few years in the cellar to properly soften up its tannins, but it is going to be brilliant once it is ready to drink. - John Gilman, Wine Berserker
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Gamay
Country - France
Region - Beaujolais
Vintage - 2022
Bottle Size - 1.5L
ABV - 14%
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