Tasted in Jullié with Jérémy Bally, 17 February 2021.
Domaine du Bois du Chat – Jérémy Bally
Les Bois de Chat
69840 Jullié
Tel: +33 6 63 49 24 35
www.domaineduboisdechat.com
More reports for Domaine Les Bois du Chat
Jérémy on 2019:
“Since 18 it’s the same style – a late summer that lacks rain. The vintage was good but a bit too small in volume – 25 hl/ha or-so. I have speeded up replanting where there are gaps in the vines as I need some grapes. The harvesting date was ‘average’ ie towards mid-September – this was also our first official vintage of conversion to organic farming so (including 2020) I have completed 2 vintages now – there’s some biodynamics underway too.
“I’m planting a new parcel at 8k (vines per hectare) instead of 10k – effectively it’s the lower amount of water that’s been the main factor in that decision. I’m happy to have concentration but we need to have some juice too. I think the biodynamics may help refresh the vines too but let’s see!”
The wines…
Not many 2019s to taste – but always a reliable, often great, address.
2019 Juliénas Cuvée Sauvage
No added sulfur, whole clusters, carbonic, first harvested grapes of the vintage, fermentation under 20°
Modest colour. The nose a little timid to start, growing red-fruited. In the mouth it’s open, easy, a little sweetness and nice energy too. There’s depth of flavour here and it’s quite vibrant finishing too. Delicious finishing with a mineral style.
2018 Juliénas
Low sulfur, not filtered.
More colour. More depth of aroma and a little roundness too. Supple, fine texture, depth of flavour – here is a growing, mouth-watering, energy too. That’s another delicious wine but with more of everything. Long, excellent wine.
2017 Juliénas VV Pattes de Velour
75-100-year-old vines 400-litre barrels. This now the commercial vintage here as there’s one year of elevage.
There’s oak here but really beautifully blended with the fruit – that’s a fine combination. Mouth-filling – a framing of the flavour with a little dry tannin but here’s a nice line of flavour. Hold another year or two but this is very good.
2018 Moulin à Vent Coeur de Granit
Third vintage, old vines from 1933 on granite and quartz, high on the hill above Chénas. The same 400-litre barrel elevage for 1 year as the previous wine.
The oak is more discrete here – flowers and depth of aroma too – that’s a beautiful nose. Impact, concentration but freshness and energy too. I like the structural side of this wine – modestly grained with tannin but not dry. That’s an excellent MaV
