Bouchard Père et Fils...to be phased out

[Mel_Knox]

Has this been discussed??
The people who bought BP and F from Henriot plan to eliminate the BP andF brand and create two brands oriented around Domaine dEugenie and some buildings in theCote de Beaune…Domaine des Cabottes.

Henriot bought BP and F in1995 and spent decades rebuilding the brand and the quality.

Does anybody care??

[Rauno_E_NZ]

We will care because the Le Montrachet from Domaine Cabotte will cost twice what Bouchard’s cost

Although in fact they have been raising their prices for the top whites quite a bit over the last few vintages already. But I’m guessing they decided their super-premium wines would sell better, and for more, if they have a super-premium label / brand.

[Andrew_K]

@Rauno_E_NZ

We will care because the Le Montrachet from Domaine Cabotte will cost twice what Bouchard’s cost

It already costs twice what it used to cost and nobody buys it anymore. That’s the reason for this change.

[CFu]

it’s being split into 3. with bouchard taken the “least” of the wines

[Dan_Kravitz]

@Andrew_K

It already costs twice what it used to cost and nobody buys it anymore.

“That place is so popular that nobody goes there any more”
Lawrence Peter Berra

[Steve_McL]

Here is a thread from Feb 2025 about Bouchard’s new owners shedding negociant wines and focussing on their extensive Domaine holdings.

Bouchard Père & Fils withdraws from En Primeur and exits the négociant business

I was at a Bouchard-hosted dinner here in the ATL last Fall at Umi Modern. Victor Pepin, Global Sales & Marketing Director for Bouchard hosted and confirms your news. We tasted Bouchard’s 22s which were easy to like and I had my “come to L’Enfant Jesus“ wake up call that sushi + Burgundy is a beautiful thing. Hallelujah. Bouchard still has large and diverse domaine holdings even after letting go of their negociant wines. A flight towards quality I suppose they would say. (Map below) IIRC, th…

[Mel_Knox]

Thanks.
From what I hear they want to eliminate the BP and F name period.

Here are is another question: I see BP and F wines being promoted on line, notably Meursault at 80$ and Les Clous at 125.The de Montille Les Clous is 175$. This is not a premier cru, just a place name.

Are people paying these prices?? I guess they must.

[PaulN]

I read they will retain some label for the Enfant Jesus Beaune and the Volnay Caillerets Ancien Cuvee Carnot (two excellent wines in my book).

[Mel_Knox]

Thanks.
I keep wondering if this is the biggest marketing mistake since New Coke.
Was the BP and F name poison?? Does d Eugenie sell like hotcakes??

[CFu]

@PaulN

I read they will retain some label for the Enfant Jesus Beaune

that’s already going to one of the new wineries

[Peter_Chiu]

@PaulN

I read they will retain some label for the Enfant Jesus Beaune and the Volnay Caillerets Ancien Cuvee Carnot (two excellent wines in my book).

There are laws - in Burgundy - which govern how a producer may label their wines.

The names : **Enfant Jesus ** and ***Volnay Caillerets Ancien Cuvee Carnot ***…will be allowed to be print on the labels. Needless to say, the name of the producer of the above wines will be changed and allowed to be changed as per AC law - which has been there since the mid 1930s.

Peter

[Peter_Chiu]

@PaulN

(two excellent wines in my book).

Will the style of the 2 wines - Enfant Jesus and Volnay Caillerets Ancien Cuvee Carnot - crafted under Bouchard’s producer …will taste the same or not, is an open question !!!

have no idea as I do not know who will be the wine-maker. But one ting for sure, they will be more expensive…

[PaulN]

The 2005 Volnay and the 2010 Beaune are both outstanding.

[Dan_Kravitz]

I am a little puzzled by the whole approach. I recognize that there was a period of a decade or so when the quality and reputation of Bouchard suffered, but I thought it was now respected, with a reputation not far off of Jadot or Drouhin. And in a wine market that is flailing internationally, I have heard that Burgundy sales remain strong and prices firm.
I don’t understand the rationale of giving up the name entirely.

I recently finished a crazy quilt wall mostly dedicated to wine, with a Bouchard panel as part of it:

So is my wall now worthless, or far more valuable as an antique ?

[Mel_Knox]

They say they have added people in the vineyard and eliminated metayage.
I don’t think they are changing personnel at the winery.

[Peter_Chiu]

@Mel_Knox

They say they have added people in the vineyard and eliminated metayage.
I don’t think they are changing personnel at the winery.

Thanks for the message. That will be great news for my CortonB. They were my 2 go-to reds for Bouchard.
I also love Burchard’s whites which I never have any issue,

[todd_waldmann]

@Peter_Chiu

That will be great news for my CortonB…and me too.

With all due respect Peter, I think you are mistaken. The change will be great news for two sets of people- those with Henriot ownership, and Burgundy drinkers who are interested in only the most collectible, expensive labels. It is not good news for anyone else.

[Peter_Chiu]

@todd_waldmann

With all due respect Peter, I think you are mistaken.

Hmmm…you are 100% correct.

I just amended my original message by taking my name out.

I was…long long ago…one of those people : *** Burgundy drinkers who are interested in only the most collectible, expensive labels. It is not good news for anyone else. ****

BUT no more…now !!.

[Mel_Knox]

Have we reached peak ‘I want the most expensive collectible labels’ people?
Or, are there more just waiting to be told to buy Chevalier-Montrachet from Vignobles de Cabottes??

And which major negociant will change stripes if this is successful?

I see on Instagram that Lafon is picking Le Montrachet today–mid August!!

[David_Glasser]

Bouchard Meursault Perrieres has been sort of my go-to not-too-expensive white Burg since I ended my premox-induced boycott of the region. It has doubled in price over the last few years. It’s as good as ever, but no better, thereby halving the QPR. I can only imagine what will happen with the 2023 under the Cabottes label.