Domaine Mélanie et Daniel Bouland
Overview
Domaine Mélanie et Daniel Bouland is a small estate in Beaujolais producing wines from Chiroubles, Morgon, and Côte de Brouilly. John Gilman describes their 2023 Morgon collection as “unequivocally the finest lineup of young Morgons I have ever been fortunate enough to taste in my lifetime.” The domaine is now a collaboration between Daniel Bouland and his daughter Mélanie. Their wines are characterized by extraordinary old vine depth — including vines planted in 1925 and 1926 — superb soil transparency, and fine-grained tannins that will reward extended cellaring.
Appellations
- Beaujolais — Chiroubles
- Beaujolais — Morgon (multiple sites including Bellevue, Corcelette, Pré Jourdan, Les Delys)
- Beaujolais — Côte de Brouilly “Cuvée Mélanie”
Key Wines
Morgon 2023
- “Les Delys 1926” Vieilles Vignes — 95 pts; 2031–2075+. Ancient vines planted 1926. “Perfectly balanced wine in 2023 that one might be tempted to drink on the early side, but there is so much still here to unlock.” The estate’s pinnacle.
- “Corcelette Sablé” Vieilles Vignes — 94+ pts; 2031–2075. Vines planted 1925.
- “Corcelette Cailloux” Vieilles Vignes — 94 pts; 2033–2075+.
- “Bellevue Cailloux” — 93+ pts; 2031–2075. Old vine section; more black fruity.
- “Pré Jourdan” — 93 pts; 2030–2070. 14.5% octane but beautifully pure.
- “Bellevue Sablé” — 92 pts; 2029–2070. 14%.
Chiroubles 2023
- “Chatenay” — 93 pts; 2028–2050. Deep, red fruity, soil-driven; needs 3–5 years.
Côte de Brouilly 2023
- “Cuvée Mélanie” — 91 pts; 2028–2050+. 14.5%; ripe; generous.
Style Notes
The Bouland wines are made in a traditional style, using whole clusters and semi-carbonic maceration. The key is vine age: many of the estate’s best Morgon parcels are 95–100 years old, delivering a depth and complexity that is extraordinary for Gamay. The wines are transparent to their terroir and soil types — the “Cailloux” (stony) sections of Bellevue and Corcelette show more black fruit and power; the “Sablé” (sandy) sections are more red fruity and charming. All the best examples will be long-distance runners requiring patience.
My Tastings
(none yet)
Sources
sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC March-April 2025 #116.txt(pp. 96–104)