Daniel Bouland

History of Domaine Daniel Bouland

Daniel Bouland comes from a family of winegrowers present in Beaujolais for six generations, whose first vines were planted around 1920. The current estate derives from this family heritage, shared with his brother Raymond, also a vigneron in the commune of Villié-Morgon, with whom Daniel works regularly, notably during the harvest. The historic heart of the estate is located in the hamlet of Corcelette, considered one of the finest terroirs of the Morgon cru.

In 2014, Daniel Bouland expanded his estate by taking on several plots in Corcelette as well as the Bellevue sector, on schist and granite. A discreet, humble, and hard-working vigneron, he spends most of his time on his steep terroirs, tending by hand his old vines that no tractor could ever reach. A skilled winemaker, he crafts great wines with limited means and at remarkably accessible prices, which today earns him a reputation that extends well beyond the borders of Beaujolais.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine Daniel Bouland

The vineyard spreads across four appellations: Morgon, with the renowned lieux-dits of Corcelette, Douby, la Côte-du-Py, les Delys, and Bellevue; Chiroubles, on the lieu-dit Chatenay just above Corcelette; Côte-de-Brouilly, on the lieu-dit Tête Noire; and a small production of Beaujolais blanc. The soils, blending granite, sand, pebbles, and volcanic blue stone, shape wines of pronounced minerality and great cellaring potential.

Gamay is the king grape, complemented by a touch of Chardonnay for the white. The vine heritage is exceptional: gobelet-trained vines aged 60 to 100 years, some of them centenary, planted at high density on Vialla rootstock, on steep slopes worked entirely by hand. Certified organic since 2012, the estate has always favoured a respectful approach to vine and grape growing, meticulously selected to yield wines of exemplary fruit intensity and roundness.

Vinifications at Domaine Daniel Bouland

The vinification is resolutely traditional. The grapes, harvested by hand, are worked as whole clusters in order to extract all the organoleptic qualities of the Gamay, then ferment with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats, with two pump-overs per day. This natural and patient approach preserves the purity of the fruit and the fine mineral imprint of each terroir.

The aging then takes place in a small cellar, in old oak casks for most of the cuvées, sometimes in concrete and epoxy resin vats, with Daniel following each wine with extreme care before an unfiltered bottling. The result is Morgon wines of fine intensity, at once fleshy, fresh, and mineral, with silky tannins and an aging potential of up to twenty years, worthy of the finest wines of the Côte de Nuits.

The Cuvées of Domaine Daniel Bouland

Morgon Corcelette: the heart cuvée of the estate, from the eponymous hamlet on sand and granite. Dark and deep, with a marriage of red and black fruits, it is tonic and structured, with remarkably well-coated tannins. A benchmark Morgon.

Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Sable: crafted from old vines of 60 to 70 years on sandy and granitic soils, then aged in vat and cask. Fine, fresh, and mineral, of great aromatic purity.

Morgon Corcelette Cailloux: born from an extremely poor terroir of pebbles and granite, this is a true summit of Morgon. Rich and jubilant, it unfolds a beautiful litany of flavours, from black fruit to cherry, peony, and rose.

Morgon Bellevue: from recently acquired plots on schist and granite, planted between 1985 and 1987. Dark and concentrated, it seduces with notes of warm cherries and almond, on a generous juice with a finely mentholated finish.

Morgon Les Delys: a cult cuvée of the estate, from vines planted in 1926 on sand and granite. Highly aromatic, velvety, and thoroughbred, it mingles elderflower, iron filings, and dried flowers in absolute indulgence. Ideally worth waiting around ten years.

Morgon Douby: from the lieu-dit Douby, this cuvée combines density, freshness, and minerality, in the great house style, with vibrant fruit and fine depth.

Morgon Côte-du-Py: born from Morgon's most celebrated terroir, whose volcanic blue schist has built its reputation, it yields a powerful, deep, and mineral wine, built for long aging.

Morgon Pré Jourdan: from old vines of approximately 70 years and aged in cask, this confidential cuvée offers depth, structure, and beautiful aromatic complexity.

Chiroubles Chatenay: from the lieu-dit Chatenay, perched just above Corcelette, this Chiroubles wins over with its vibrant fruit, its finesse, and its drinkability, with almost imperceptible tannins.

Côte-de-Brouilly Cuvée Mélanie: from the lieu-dit Tête Noire on volcanic blue stone, it combines minerality, freshness, and structure. Pure and sincere, with black cherry, morello cherry, and a hint of pepper, this is a wine for cellaring.

Beaujolais Blanc: the estate's sole white wine, this fresh and fruity Chardonnay brings a touch of diversity to a range dominated by Gamay, with notes of white-fleshed fruits and a lovely freshness.