Domaine Daniel Bouland Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Mélanie 2024

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, directly above Château Thivin. The blue schist 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 of Bouland’s cuvées, this is a wine born of low yields and natural, whole-bunch fermentation.

As you would expect from this muscular terroir, it’s more baritone than Chiroubles, Again, this is super energetic and red-fruited—all redcurrants and blueberry fruit—but there is also an intense ‘volcanic’ smokiness which brings wonderful complexity. The finish is crisp, perfumed with a pinch of refreshing tannins. Put this in a Burgundy glass to remind yourself that Beaujolais is indeed technically part of that region.