Bonnaire Terroirs Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru: A Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs
Bonnaire Terroirs Blanc de Blancs is a 100% Chardonnay Grand Cru sourced from three iconic villages in the Côte des Blancs: Cramant, Chouilly, and Oiry. These chalky terroirs, recognized as among the finest in Champagne, give this non-vintage cuvée its characteristic mineral and airy profile. The blend includes 15% reserve wines, ensuring consistency in the Bonnaire house style.
Pairing Bonnaire Terroirs Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru with a meal
Tasting Notes
The color is a very pale gold with green highlights, a sign of youthful vibrancy, with fine bubbles and a persistent stream of foam. On the nose, the aroma opens with white flowers, hawthorn, and acacia, accompanied by fresh citrus notes—lemon and grapefruit—with a hint of mint that enhances the impression of liveliness. As it breathes, notes of light brioche and sweet licorice gradually emerge. On the palate, the attack is crisp and lively, with a delicately creamy texture, underpinned by a chalky minerality that directly evokes the subsoils of the three Grand Cru vineyards of origin. Citrus zest dominates the mid-palate before the finish broadens into indulgent nuances of brioche and fresh almond. The finish is briny and lingering.
- Champagne Type: Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru
- Blend: 100% Chardonnay
- Grand Crus in the blend: Cramant, Chouilly, Oiry (Côte des Blancs)
- Proportion of reserve wines: 15%
- Winemaking: Temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, malolactic fermentation
- Aging on racks: 36 months minimum
- Dosage: Extra-Brut, 4 g/L
- Alcohol content: 12.5% vol
Food and Wine Pairings
The mineral tension and extra-brut dosage naturally make this champagne ideal for specific pairings. It pairs perfectly with Claire oysters or a seafood platter, as well as salmon tartare or a sea bass fillet in a light sauce. As an aperitif, it pairs well with Comté cheese gougères or smoked salmon canapés.
Aging Potential
This Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru can be enjoyed right now for its lively, floral, youthful aromas and will continue to age favorably over the next four to six years. The natural acidity of the Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs, enhanced by at least thirty-six months of aging on racks, forms the backbone of this wine’s longevity. Over time, notes of toasted brioche, dried fruit, and hazelnut will gradually take the place of the citrus aromas. Serve between 10 and 12 °C in a tulip-shaped glass, which better releases the aromatic bouquet than a classic flute.
Cramant, Chouilly, Oiry: The Production of a Bonnaire Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs
The Vintage in the Vineyard
This non-vintage champagne is not based on a single vintage but on a selection of several vintages, supplemented by 15% reserve wines that ensure the continuity of the style. The three Grand Cru villages selected—Cramant, Chouilly, and Oiry—are all located on the Côte des Blancs, the eastern slope of the Montagne, which is home to the chalky soils most conducive to Champagne Chardonnay. Each contributes a distinct character: Cramant for its liveliness and floral notes, Chouilly for its roundness, and Oiry for its pronounced minerality. The multi-vintage blend allows Maison Bonnaire to maintain a consistent profile regardless of annual climatic variations.
Winemaking
The base wines are vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel cuves, undergoing complete malolactic fermentation, which lends suppleness and roundness to the wine without masking the chalky minerality of the terroirs. After blending and incorporating the reserve wines, the bottling process triggers the formation of the second fermentation according to the Champagne method. The champagne is then aged on racks for at least thirty-six months, during which time autolysis of the lees gradually enriches the aromatic profile with notes of brioche and almond. Disgorgement is followed by a dosage of 4 g/L, classifying the cuvée as Extra-Brut—a category that preserves the direct expression of the terroir.
