Franck Bonville : Pur Oger Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2019

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Pur Oger Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2019 by Franck Bonville

Tasting

Appearance
The wine reveals a pale yellow hue enhanced by golden highlights, enlivened by a fine, persistent mousse.

Nose
The nose opens with delicate aromas of white flowers, green apple and ripe lemon. With aeration, the bouquet gains in complexity as toasty notes and subtle hints of liquorice emerge.

Palate
The attack is supple and caressing, leading into a mid-palate with a silky, creamy texture. Fruity flavours of pear, white peach and candied lemon intertwine harmoniously. The whole is underpinned by a taut, mineral backbone that stretches into a long finish marked by the salinity so characteristic of the Oger terroir.

Food and wine pairings

Ideal as a refined aperitif, this wine also pairs beautifully with prized shellfish such as lobster or langoustines. It is equally at home alongside delicate fish served with a light lemon butter sauce, or with fine poultry in a cream sauce.

Serving and cellaring

To fully appreciate the Pur Oger Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2019, it is best served at a temperature of around 9–10°C. Blessed with excellent ageing potential, this wine can be enjoyed until around 2040, provided it is stored in optimal conditions.

A precise and beautifully refined grand cru from Oger in Champagne

The estate

The history of the Champagne house Franck Bonville truly began with its founding in Avize in 1937, although the first vines were acquired in the early 20th century. Today, the estate is run by Olivier Bonville, representing the fourth generation, assisted by Ferdinand Ruelle. The house farms a vineyard of around 15 to 18 hectares spread across the prestigious terroirs of the Côte des Blancs. Renowned for its environmental commitment and its specialisation in blanc de blancs, the house combines family tradition with technical precision to craft cuvées with a strong sense of identity.

The vineyard

This cuvée comes exclusively from the Champagne grand cru of Oger, located on the famous Côte des Blancs. The grapes are sourced from two specific plots, Les Rumigny and Les Noyerots, which benefit from deep chalk soils offering excellent drainage and natural water regulation. The estate is certified High Environmental Value (HVE) Level 3. This approach translates into the complete elimination of herbicides and insecticides, soil cultivation through ploughing, partial grassing between the rows and the preservation of biodiversity through the replanting of ecological hedgerows.

Vinification and ageing

The Pur Oger Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2019 begins with precise vinification in stainless steel tanks, accompanied by malolactic fermentation to bring roundness. The cuvée then undergoes extended ageing for five years in the estate's historic cellars built from millstone rock. Unusually, this ageing on the lees takes place under cork stopper, encouraging a distinctive micro-oxygenation and the development of complex aromas. Disgorgement is scheduled for autumn 2025.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay