Franck Bonville : Pur Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2019

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

Tasting

Appearance
The wine reveals a light hue with pale yellow or greenish glints, enhanced by a fine, persistent mousse.

Nose
The nose opens with aromas of citrus fruit, apple, pear and quince. It is enriched by notes of white flowers, flint and chalk, evolving with aeration towards indulgent hints of brioche, toast and almond.

Palate
The attack is lively, giving way to a palate with a vertical, linear structure. Driven by fine acidity and a creamy texture derived from its ageing, it reveals a saline backbone before stretching out into a long, taut, mineral finish.

Food and wine pairings

This Champagne pairs perfectly with delicate, briny dishes such as oysters, white fish carpaccio or shellfish like langoustine and lobster served with a light sauce. It also enhances crisp vegetable dishes and makes a delightful aperitif alongside refined amuse-bouches.

The purity and mineral tension of a Champagne grand cru

The estate

The family's story began in the early 20th century with Alfred Bonville, but the Champagne Franck Bonville house was officially founded in the 1930s by his son Franck, in Avize. Now run by Olivier Bonville and his son-in-law Ferdinand Ruelle-Dudel, this 15-hectare family estate stands out for its vineyard planted exclusively with Chardonnay and classified as grand cru. Certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE), the estate combines Champagne tradition with sustainable viticulture to produce cuvées of great precision.

The vineyard

The Pur Mesnil cuvée comes from grand cru-classified plots located on the legendary terroir of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, in Champagne. The vines, around 35 to 45 years old, thrive in the lieux-dits “Le Tilleul”, “Les Zailleux” and “Les Hautes Mottes”. Facing east and south-east, this terroir is characterised by an extremely thin layer of topsoil, with the chalk surfacing just a few centimetres below. The vineyard is managed according to the principles of Haute Valeur Environnementale certification, without any herbicides or insecticides.

Winemaking and ageing

The Pur Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2019 is crafted with great precision to preserve the purity of the fruit. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, followed by full malolactic fermentation. The wine then undergoes extended ageing on the lees, with the distinctive feature of tirage under cork, which encourages a unique micro-oxygenation and the development of a creamy texture before disgorgement.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay