See the latest scores from David Schildknecht for Daniel Bouland wines in Robert Parker The Wine Advocate, August 2011
Bouland's 2010 Chiroubles is delightfully-scented with orange blossom and fresh red raspberry; luscious yet bright; infused with saliva-inducing salinity; and finishes with lift and a sappy persistence that was enhanced in the freshly-opened bottle versus that open overnight. Smoky black tea and crushed stone notes were on the other hand enhanced in the latter bottle. This won't make one forget the seductively-textured 2009, but represents another fine performance that is worth following for several more years.
Daniel Bouland achieved a 2010 crop similar in size to that of 2009, and said that effectively combating mildew was his toughest 2010 challenge. But somehow, it seems, this grower renders wines if anything more dynamic and ultimately more expressive in challenging vintages. Chiroubles was harvested at just under 12% potential alcohol and lightly-chaptalized; the other crus at 12.5-13% and unadjusted. Bouland owned-up to high levels of malic acid but reported problem-free lactic transformation. I had the opportunity to compare side-by-side freshly opened bottles of each wine with ones that had been open overnight and have commented on some of the differences in the course of my notes. (For further detail on this grower's properties, consult my tasting notes in issue 190.)
2010 Daniel Bouland Cote de Brouilly Cuvée Melanie (no 178 on our list, rated 91)
From a parcel adjacent to the core vineyard of Chateau Thivin, Bouland's barrel-matured 2010 Cote de Brouilly Cuvee Melanie displays juicy, tart-edged, cardamom- and cinnamon-tinged Maine blueberry wreathed alluringly in wisteria and finishing with notes of iodine and saliva-inducing salinity. Sleek, palpably dense, and pure-fruited, this delectable, charming Cote de Brouilly surprised me a bit for its absence of stony mineral expression as well as for the fact that a bottle - albeit merely one particular bottle - open overnight was less satisfying or mineral than one freshly-opened. I would however anticipate at least several years of pleasure.
2010 Daniel Bouland Morgon Corcelette (no 179 on our list, rated 92)
Bouland's 2010 Morgon Corcelette offers scents of violet, wisteria, fresh cherry, red currant, and smoked meat. Sweetly-ripe yet vivacious fruit informs a silken-textured palate, while smokiness and salinity lend invigoration to a purely-persistent, downright vibrant finish. Look for 4-6 years of satisfaction. (A bottle open overnight was surprisingly unevolved.)
2010 Daniel Bouland Morgon Vieilles Vignes (no 180 on our list, rated 92)
Smoked and red meat; moss and peat; along with ripe dark cherry and blackberry, inform the nose and firm, finely-tannic palate of Bouland's 2010 Morgon Vieilles Vignes. Iodine, salt, and a tart crunch of berry seeds serve for invigorating counterpoint in this wine's gripping finish. It should mature fascinatingly and deliciously for the next half dozen years.