Named after Daniel Bouland’s daughter, Cuvée Mélanie is drawn from a small, steep, half-hectare plot on the slopes of Mont Brouilly. The 70-year-old vines are rooted on the area’s famous terres bleu (blue-tinted volcanic soils) within the lieu-dit of Tête Noire vines, directly above Château Thivin. It’s this volcanic blue schist that lends the wines of this Cru their unique mineral profile. Bouland’s 0.8-hectare parcel is planted at 12,000 vines per hectare. As with all Bouland’s cuvées, this is a wine born from low yields and natural, whole-bunch fermentation.

Black cherry and bright raspberry with a hit of heady, whole peppercorn spice, touch of cola and lovely burst of five spice that drives the inviting nose home. Super crunchy, raspberry fruit layered in with fine slippery tannins. Bursting with red fruit flavour, bright and bouncy. It's fine and tight with a lovely core of fruit that feels light and airy and at once concentrated and precise in its delivery. A fine Villages. BEAUNE & BEYOND.

This is our second allocation of Bouland’s Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Cailloux, which is drawn from the domaine’s Corcelette vines rooted in this lieu-dit’s rockier soils. The vines here are only a little younger than the centurion beasts that go in the Sable version of this wine. It’s a terroir that gives a slightly more structured Morgon than the Sable cuvée. To be honest, we have never really had a preference between the two since they were differentiated on the labels starting with the 2019 vintage: both wines are stunning examples of Corcelette.

The 2022 vintage of Georges Duboeuf Domaine Du Prieuré Fleurie Saint Romain is a standout example of the renowned Beaujolais region in France. This wine, crafted by the esteemed Georges Duboeuf, showcases the full potential of the Gamay grape in its purest form. On the eye, it reveals a vibrant ruby red hue, inviting the senses to explore further. The nose is greeted with a bouquet of fresh red berries, such as ripe strawberries and cherries, intertwined with delicate floral notes. On the palate, the wine is lively and well-balanced, with a silky texture and a refreshing acidity. The flavours of red fruits continue to shine through, accompanied by hints of spice and a long, smooth finish. This Fleurie is a true testament to Duboeuf's winemaking prowess, delivering a quintessential Beaujolais experience that is not to be missed.

Théo Dancer’s Gamay is sourced from an organic grower in Chiroubles. The winemaking remains the same as previous releases, with the grapes fully destemmed and the wine fermented and matured in amphora and old cask. It’s interesting to note that Dancer’s fellow Burgundian, Benoît Moreau, also makes Chiroubles using a similar, non-carbonic technique. The belief is that a longer, ‘Pinot-like’ fermentation allows the wine to transmit more of its site. Either way, the result is impressive, with lovely purity and gorgeous aromatics. In simple terms, this is an infusion-style Gamay, with a bright, red-fruited personality, all kinds of berries and floral notes but with ink and anise kicking on the finish to remind us, along with the length and the fine powdery tannins, that this is a serious wine! About as classy and fine as Beaujolais gets.