2018 Domaine Jean-Marc et Thomas Bouley Pommard Les Rugiens Premier Cru

Thomas Bouley is very much the insiders secret, more famous with his fellow vignerons than with collectors chasing the next 'superstar' seen on social media. That Thomas resists putting his name on the front label of his wines (preferring to keep his father's) is typical of his humble and low key approach. Based in Volnay may also add to his relative anonymity, however we suspect this is changing rapidly as word gets out of just how spectacular his wines are, and of the continual improvement seen since he began working with his father in the early 2000's.

Meticulous attention to detail in both the vineyard and winery are notable here, and key to why Thomas is so highly regarded by his peers. Yields are moderate, and in the cellar whole cluster ferments are used more with his clay rich sites (Pommard Fremiers, Volnay Clos des Chenes), while those with thin white soils (Pommard Rugiens-Hauts, Volnay Caillerets) are largely destemmed. New oak use is minimal, and each wine spend two winters on fine lees before bottling.

Other Reviews....
A firmly reduced nose does not allow any nuance to be appreciated. More interesting are the racy and almost painfully intense tautly muscular flavors that possess plenty of minerality that imparts a refreshing salinity on the linear, austere, compact and tightly wound finish. This excellent effort is a 'buy and forget you own it' wine that should age gracefully for years. Drink 2035+.
91-94 points
Allen Meadows - Burghound

The 2018 Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens has also turned out very well indeed, mingling aromas of cherries and red berries with hints of licorice, forest floor and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, bright and precise, it's mineral and fine-boned, reflecting its origins in the thinner, calcareous soils of Rugiens-Hauts that have little in common with the iron-rich clays of Rugiens-Bas. Long and penetrating, it's beautifully refined. Drink 2026 - 2055.
94+ points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Sep 2021)

The 2018 Pommard Les Rugiens 1er Cru comes from the lieu-dit of Rugiens-Haut, on shallow soils. This is 100% de-stemmed. It has a light, airy bouquet of fragrant cranberry and raspberry aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite dark fruit and a markedly saline, focused finish. Moderate length, but there is good energy here. Drink 2022 - 2038.
91-93 points
Neal Martin - Vinous

Northern part just before it switches to ENE. Fair depth of colour, more red than purple. Complex nose, there is a lot going on here. More red than black, complex too on the palate now with some darker notes, keeps changing, ripe but vibrating. Dense and quite classy.
92-95 points
Jasper Morris - Inside Burgundy