In the 100 years that the Bouley family have been cultivating vines and making wine in Volnay and Pommard, they have earned a reputation as one of the finest red winemakers in the Côte de Beaune. Today the domaine carries the name of father Jean-Marc and son Thomas, undoubtedly one of the region’s most dynamic young winemakers.
The introduction of an impressive new cuverie overlooking the premier cru vineyards of Volnay allows Thomas to make the very finest wines that the village can offer. This is an estate respecting the traditional values of a previous generation through careful and attentive vineyard management and making some beautifully polished wines in the winery.
2015 is our first vintage buying from Thomas en primeur and we were delighted, following our initial release, to be offered a 2nd tranche of four exquisite cuvées highlighting the merits of Pommard and Volnay.
Volnay Vieilles Vignes 2015
£350.00 per 12 IB (very limited)
These aged vines on the rich ferrous soil below Les Carelles have a wonderfully sunny exposure and the warmth of this site always produces a very generous Volnay. Masses of damsons and loganberries, this is broad and full. With sweet warm flavours of dark fruits and Moroccan spices, this is a charming wine. Drink 2018 – 2025. Goedhuis & Co
The 2015 Volnay Vieilles Vignes comes from vines located just below the premier cru in a sunnier microclimate with clay-rich soils. It has an elegant bouquet with scents of blackberry leaf, cranberry, orange rind and a touch of wilted rose petals. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp and tensile tannin. There are tightly-wound, stony red berry fruit intermixed with orange rind and white pepper, the mouth tingling long after the wine has departed. Again, this is a strong and delicious offering from Thomas Bouley. 90-92 points Neal Martin
Volnay 1er Cru Les Carelles 2015
£530.00 per 12 IB (very limited)
From the most central of Volnay’s premier cru sites, this is an absolute beauty. Deep shining purple colour, with beautifully expressive aromas of violets and freshly picked raspberries. A wine balancing volume with hints of layered minerality and velvety textured tannins. This is rock ‘n’ roll all the way. Drink 2018 – 2025. Goedhuis & Co
The 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Les Carelles has a much more fruit-driven, ripe bouquet compared to the Volnay Caillerets with rounded mulberry and cassis aromas that are vivacious and sensual. Très Volnay! The palate is wonderfully balanced with great depth, quite sensual and harmonious, offering a wonderful crescendo of flavors towards the vivid and generous crushed strawberry and raspberry coulis finish. There is superb delineation here, completing what is a very impressive Volnay. 92-94 points Neal Martin
Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes 2015
£595.00 per 12 IB (very limited)
With 55% whole bunch fruit in the fermentation this wine is perfumed with red fruit aromas. Initially elegant and smooth, the red fruits and velveteen tannins evolve into a crescendo of power and weight. It finishes on compactly sweet berry fruits. Drink 2019 – 2030 Goedhuis & Co
The 2015 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes includes 55% whole bunch fruit this year and one new barrel out of five. It has a glorious bouquet with pixelated redcurrant and blackcurrant aromas, outstanding mineral tension and “bite” on display here. The palate is silky smooth and harmonious on the entry. There is not a single hair out of place , the acidity supremely well judged with a taut saline finish reining everything back in for later, when this reaches full maturity in bottle. This is an outstanding Clos des Chênes from Thomas Bouley – surely the best he has ever made. 92-94 points Neal Martin
Pommard 1er Cru Fremiers 2015
£595.00 per 12 IB (very limited)
This parcel lies in the sunny mid-slope of Pommard’s southerly border with Volnay and considered one of its most refined premiers crus. A relatively high 75% whole bunch fruit in the fermentation has given the wine a sweetness of ripe summer berries on the nose, and a defined, elegant construction to the tannins. The tight structure and fine concentration will show best after a few years in bottle. Drink 2020 – 2030 Goedhuis & Co
The 2015 Pommard 1er Cru Les Fremiers includes 75% whole bunch fruit, the highest that winemaker Thomas Bouley uses. You could say that is evident on the nose that has a more sous-bois character, Autumn leaf scents tincturing the brambly red berry fruit. The new oak (25%) is neatly intertwined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. This is a pretty Pommard in the first half, then it resorts to type and becomes more structure and linear towards the second. But there is drive here and great tension from start to finish. Give it 4-5 years in bottle. 90-92 points Neal Martin