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 vines, directly above Château Thivin. It’s this volcanic blue schist that 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 Bouland’s cuvées, this is a wine born from low yields and natural, whole-bunch fermentation.
Regarding the review from William Kelley, we found more blue fruits in the mix, but let’s not split hairs—this is elite-level Côte de Brouilly. Despite the cooler year, it will complement any food that you would pair with a good Nuits-Saint-Georges and has the potential to improve in the cellar for years to come.