2023 Daniel Bouland Morgon Delys Vignes de 1926 Organic Magnum 1.5L, Beaujolais

The 2023 Morgon Les Délys Vignes plantées en 1926, aged in foudre, offers a full-bodied profile with a seamless integration of tannicstructure and concentrated fruit. On the palate, notes of chocolate spice, licorice, blueberry and ginger unfold smoothly, voluminouslycoating the mouth with a rich, almost waxy texture. The smooth-coated tannins aptly stabilize the wine in perfect proportion to thewine's body. Herbaceous, mentholated accents emerge, adding freshness and complexity to the wine’s lingering finish.

92 points Kenna Wells robertparker.com

“This estate is one of my personal reference points for the Beaujolais. Concentrated and succulent, Bouland's wines are beautifully differentiated by site and age gracefully…” 

William Kelley robertparker.com

“This tiny wine grower of the hamlet of Corcelette… has seduced us for a few years now with his concentrated and textured Morgons. The fruit weight in no way masks the almost wild minerality of the soil. These wines have an intensity that can only come from old vines that are impeccably cultivated… We do not hesitate to say that you will find here the best value for money in red wine [in this guide].” 

La Revue du Vins de France

“The wines are made traditionally, with whole bunch-fermentations, native yeasts and aging in neutral oak casks before bottling without filtration. Bouland has a rabid following in France and overseas so his wines are never easy to track down.” 

Josh Raynolds vinous.com

Daniel Bouland Morgon Delys Vignes de 1926 is one of the most serious and emotionally compelling wines in Beaujolais, a bottle that shows exactly what old vine Gamay can achieve when site, vine age and traditional winemaking align. These vines were planted in 1926, nearly a century old, rooted deep into Morgon’s decomposed granite slopes. Their naturally low yields and deep root systems deliver intensity, mineral depth and an almost Burgundian sense of structure, without ever losing Gamay’s vitality.

Daniel Bouland is a reference point in Morgon, based in Corcelette and deeply committed to traditional methods. He works with whole bunch fermentation, long macerations and extended élevage, allowing the wines to settle naturally rather than being shaped by technique. The Delys parcel is already special, but the Vignes de 1926 bottling represents the oldest and most profound section of the site. This is not a louder wine, but a deeper one. Everything is slower, more layered, more serious.

The aromatics are complex and evolving. It opens with dark cherry, black plum and wild strawberry, then moves into dried rose petal, violet and peony. With air, savoury notes build. Black tea, crushed granite, ironstone and a gentle earthy character that feels warm and grounded rather than rustic. There is a subtle spice thread too, more clove and white pepper than sweetness, adding quiet complexity.

On the palate, the wine is beautifully composed and deceptively powerful. The fruit is dense but never heavy, carried by fresh acidity that keeps everything lifted and alive. Texture is the key. The tannins are extremely fine and chalky, giving shape and authority without grip or hardness. Mid palate, savoury elements come through clearly. Think dried herbs, mushroom, stone and a faint ferrous note that is classic Morgon at this level. The finish is long, calm and persistent, echoing dark fruit, florals and mineral depth long after the wine has left the glass.

This is Gamay built for food and for time. Roast duck, slow cooked pork, lamb, mushroom dishes, lentils, or a proper steak frites all work beautifully. It is also a stunning wine with aged cheeses like Comté or Tomme. While it can be enjoyed now with decanting, this is where patience is rewarded. Over ten to fifteen years it will continue to evolve, gaining forest floor, dried spice and savoury complexity while retaining its core of energy and balance.

Daniel Bouland Morgon Delys Vignes de 1926 is not just a great Beaujolais. It is a great wine, full stop. Rare, soulful and profoundly expressive, it stands as one of the clearest examples of how old vine Morgon can rival far more famous appellations in depth, longevity and emotional pull.