2020 Domaine Jean-Marc et Thomas Bouley Cote d' Or Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy

A cuvée that now sees two winters in barrel like the rest of the range, the 2020 Bourgogne Côte d'Or Rouge exhibits aromas of sweet berries, spices and vanilla pod, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and seamless palate that's flesh and charming, with sweet tannins and succulent acids.

Bottled after two years' élevage, Bouley's 2020s are some of the best wines he has produced to date, rivaling his 2019s and 2015s to rank as the highpoint, though surely not the ultimate zenith, of his already remarkable career. In Issue 256 End of August 2021 of The Wine Advocate, I devoted an article to this meticulous, perfectionist vigneron; so for more details on his methods and approach, I direct readers there (https://www.robertparker.com/articles/tPD7awaYz44xQDNrY).

Why is 2020 such a success? Firstly, Bouley's agronomy clearly paid off, delivering fully mature fruit without any hint of over-ripeness. Secondly, among the ensemble of details that together make a great wine, an important factor is cooperage; and here, Bouley has made progress, finding a tonnelier capable of making barrels exactly adapted to his requirements. Thirdly, his policy of longer élevage, for all his appellations, was especially well adapted to the 2020 vintage, civilizing wines that, if bottled early, might have remained brutishly primary, but which, after the better part of 24 months' maturity, are suave, elegant and unfailingly precise.

89 points WK robertparker.com

The Bouley family can trace their winemaking lineage back to the early 14th century and Jean-Marc took over the family domaine in 1985 after the death of his father. Today the estate spans 12 hectares in Volnay, Pommard and Beaune. Since 2006 winemaking is carried out by his son Thomas, who returned to France after vintages in Oregon and Felton Road in New Zealand. These are wines that bridge the gap between traditional Burgundy & the New World, showing superb transparency of terroir, superb purity and fruit density throughout their length. Considered by many to be one of the rising stars of the Côtede-Beaune