Rene Bouvier - some of the best value in our Burgundy portfolio

Since 2001, Bouvier has backed off on extract, and the style today is charming and accessible. Pretty much all the 2020s reviewed here will drink well out of the gates

– William Kelley / The Wine Advocate

As to the wines, I like them a great deal they’re a bit more energetic than their 2019 equivalents with even better concentration and aging potential

– Allen Meadows / Burghound

2020 is a vintage of fresh, transparent and expressive wines in Burgundy.  Many are currently delicious to drink ‘on their fruit’ and those of Domaine Rene Bouvier are amongst the greatest value examples in Vinum’s portfolio.

It was a phone call from one of the team at Domaine Leroy that tipped me off to Bernard Bouvier’s wines.  Gilles told me that he bought the wines for his personal cellar each year and that I should check them out.  Frankly, when a Leroy number flashes up on my phone, I always take the call and a tip like this was a very exciting recommendation.

The Rene Bouvier estate is not a hot new name, but an established 3rd generation domaine of an impressive 30-hectares.  It is located on the doorstep of Gevrey Chambertin and delivers a degree of value of which its more famous neighbours simply cannot compete! 

It took me a while to appreciate just how good Bernard Bouvier’s wines are these days. In a quiet way he has been fine tuning his offer, moving more in the direction of whole bunch vinification and indeed several no added sulphur cuvées, while working with sufficient care and attention to avoid any deviations in the wines.
– Jasper Morris MW / Inside Burgundy

Yesterday, in Singapore, we opened a selection of Bouvier 2020s in our office, to showcase the quality of the wines to Vinum’s sales team.  The wines were universal hits, with several of my colleagues eager to buy the wines themselves before they are all sold!

Looking at merchants’ offers and lists it can feel that value has deserted the Cote d’Or – but it can still be found in the cellars of Domaine Bouvier.  Do browse the list below and I highly recommend you select a couple of cases for your own cellar.

The Offer:
Offered subject to remaining unsold. Immediately available from our Singapore cellars.

2020 Domaine Rene Bouvier, Fixin Crais de Chêne 

27 cases (x6) @ SGD$ 360/ case (inc GST $388.80)

“Exhibiting aromas of smoky, plummy fruit, orange rind and spices, Bouvier’s 2020 Fixin Crais de Chêne is medium to full-bodied, ample and lively, with supple tannins and a saline finish. It’s a round, charming rendition of the appellation.”

89/100 – William Kelley

2020 Rene Bouvier, Marsannay Les Clos Blanc 

27 cases (x6) @ SGD$ 330/ case (inc GST $356.40)

“Bright aromas of green apple and prominent citrus elements complement the racy, intense and delicious medium weight flavors that culminate in a clean and bone-dry finish that is not especially complex. This might add depth with a year or two of bottle aging though the potential aging curve is fairly short.”

87-89pts – Allen Meadows

“Plenty of cooked apples, lemon drops and honey character in this white. It’s full-bodied and slightly oily, yet there’s a tension and framing to the wine. It’s phenolic and focused. Drink or hold.”

93/100 – James Suckling 

2020 Rene Bouvier, Marsannay En Ouzeloy 

14 cases (x6) @ SGD$ 360/ case (inc GST $388.80)

“The 2020 Marsannay En Ouzeloy reveals aromas of rich berry and cassis fruit mingled with hints of peonies and spices. Medium-bodied, rich and lively, it’s a charming, elegant wine that will drink well young.”

89/100 – William Kelley

“A full and creamy textured red with a tangy acidity and orange peel undertone. Dried strawberries and sliced strawberries with some cedar flavors. Hints of smoke. Drinkable, but needs three or four years to soften. Drink after 2026.”

93/100 – James Suckling 

2020 Rene Bouvier, Marsannay Le Finage

14 cases (x6) @ SGD$ 330/ case (inc GST $356.40)

“Le Finage is the name Bernard gives to his cuvée ronde covering various locations across the appellation. Mid purple, the nose has a little more precision than Montre-Cul, with what could be a pyrazine note, but is the whole bunches showing much more in this wine. Good intensity, excellent fresh finish from the acidity, perhaps a little sourness from the stems, which should soon play out, otherwise dark raspberry fruit, and certainly length. A little tangerine touch to finish.”

87-89pts – Jasper Morris MW

“This is a rather tough Marsannay with a dried strawberry and cherry character with some bitter chocolate and dried orange peel. Closed now and will improve with age. Better after 2024.”

93/100 – James Suckling 

2020 Rene Bouvier, Marsannay Clos du Roy 

7 cases (x6) @ SGD$ 420/ case (inc GST $453.60)

“Pretty, very ripe and beautifully layered aromas of violet, cassis, plum and earth lead to solidly concentrated and slightly bigger flavors that also exude evident minerality on the slightly firmer and youthfully austere finale. This too should benefit significantly from 6 to 10 years of cellaring.”

89-91pts – Allen Meadows

“A very fine and fresh Burgundy for 2020, with dark berries, chocolate and hazelnut aromas and flavors. Medium body. Velvety and creamy tannins and a juicy finish. Drink in 2025.”

92/100 – James Suckling 

2020 Rene Bouvier, Gevrey Chambertin Racine du Temps 

10 cases (x6) @ SGD$ 720/ case (inc GST $777.60)

“An exuberantly floral nose displays additional notes of spice, earth and various dark berry fruit scents. The delicious medium-bodied flavors possess fine density as there is an abundance of sappy dry extract that does a good job of buffering the moderately firm supporting tannins. A lovely villages and worth your interest.”

89-92pts – Allen Meadows – ‘Outstanding Top Value’

“Blackberries, earth and mushroom with some bark aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Dark strawberry and forest floor undertones. Lovely richness and decadence. Drinkable, but better in 2026.”

94/100 – James Suckling 

“En Créot is the main source but this is a multiple terroir, old vine cuvée. A dark brooding garnet crimson colour. The bouquet goes to another level and it is obvious that alongside the floral top notes there is a wealth of fruit to follow. Obviously whole bunch in style, but gives terrific pleasure. Sensual and spicy but above all with dark fruit intensity. If you like Jamet or Jasmin Côte Rôtie you will like this. Small millerand grapes.”

92/94pts – Jasper Morris MW

2020 Rene Bouvier, Gevrey Chambertin Combe au Moine 1er Cru 

5 cases (x6) @ SGD$ 960/ case (inc GST $1,036.80)

“An overtly floral-suffused nose freely offers up an airy but ripe mix of plum, black raspberry, kirsch and earth. The sleek, vibrant and muscular bigger-bodied flavors also flash plenty of minerality on the compact, moderately austere and solidly persistent finish. Like the Champeaux, this is sufficiently compact and tightly wound to need at least half a dozen years of forbearance first.”

90-93pts – Allen Meadows – ‘Outstanding’