This past December I went bonkers over the 2017 Bouland Delys cuvee. I think this Corelette VV #4 might even be better.
With a caveat.
This is about as close to Burgundy as a Beaujolais has ever tasted for me. I’m certainly no expert in Burgundy, though I have had my fair share over the years, but this is definitely more that than Gamay. Heck, one might even posit that this is more old vine Serine than Gamay.
And perhaps as a result, some Beaujolais purists may say this wine is too much.
I certainly found the 2018 Boulands OTT. I know @William_Kelley loved them, but I found them over the brink of ripeness. But we do agree on these incredible 2017s.
This nose. So intoxicating. And beguiling. Pungent, funky, gamy, feral. An incredible melange of savory and earthy aromas. Truffles, roasted garlic, wild mushrooms, smoke, dank wet earth and decomposing moist ground cover. So rich, this earthy sense on the aromatics, leading straight into a kaleidoscope of earthy flavors. I won’t be saying dancing Satyrs in a Bacchanalian revelry, but I am thinking it. Almost netherworldly. Totally dark on profile, a range of the dark fruits and hints at wild plums. Wild game seared rare on the grill, blood iron and iodine. So savory. Streaky saline, chalky burly tannins. Big structure to this wine, brooding tannins and structure. I think this Beaujolais will age and continue to reward for quite some time. I see more upside. I need more of this.
This is a fantastic wine. But not your every day Beaujolais.
I bought a ton of '15 and '16 but skipped '17 for some reason? I think if there is ever going to be a 1er Cru in Beaujolais, this is certainly it. Funny how hype kept me buying Jean Foillard but I stopped buying this. I agree that I do love it, but put it with Thivin that it really benefits from some age.
I really like Bouland but to me they don’t scratch the same itch that Foillard, Metras, and Lapierre do… It’s a different style of wine and that’s fine, it’s just not what I reach for when I want a “Bojo”.
I love Bouland, but haven’t had any 2017 from him. To me, Bouland’s style is often already quite big and rich to boot, so warmer vintages can be a bit too much for my preference. In cooler vintages they are superb.
Nope, the wines scratch a different kind of itch. Still a Bojo itch, but on a different part of the body.
In part, yes. But more aromatic and earthy, I would say. And not the same scale either. Shows amazingly well for a 6-7 year old wine. Would not expect this degree of evolution from a Northern Rhone at this young age.
Couldn’t agree more. Just drank my only bottle two weeks ago and lamented on why didn’t I buy more at the ridiculously low price of $29!! Freakin’ love Beaujolais
