Domaine Jean-Marc Bouley, Volnay

Background

Although the Bouleys can trace their wine making roots back to 1527, Jean-Marc set up his domaine in 1974, gradually expanding and incorporating the vines from his father’s domaine, which had been set up in 1948. Jean-Marc’s son Thomas took over the winemaking reigns in time for the 2006 vintage, having recently returned from New Zealand where he had been working at Felton Road. Through his work experience here, and also in Oregon, Thomas had learnt various new techniques, and was keen to start experimenting with whole bunch pressing. He believed that the inclusion of stems helped to promote finesse, complexity and persistence.

As a result, the wines at Bouley have started to show more of the wonderful fruit aspects that serious New World pinots display, while still holding onto the true stamp of Burgundy.

Size: The Domaine’s 8.5 hectares is shared between the appellations of Volnay, Pommard, Beaune and Meursault

Soil type:	chalk and clay.
Vine age:	range from 5-50 years old.
Yields:	38-42 hl/ha.
Annual production:	40,000 bottles.

Viticultural and vinification methods

Yields are carefully controlled through pruning, debudding and trellising, leaving only 6 to 8 bunches of grapes on the vine, and the harvest is always by hand. They plough the vineyards and avoid chemical fertilisers, allowing the natural enrichment of the soil.

Red wines are aged for 12-18 months on average, with 30-50% new oak (10-15% for the Bourgogne)

Wines

Bourgogne Pinot Noir

Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune

Beaune 1er Cru ‘Les Reversées

Volnay

Volnay ‘Vieilles Vignes’;

Volnay ‘Clos de la Cave’

Pommard