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The Bonnaire house was founded in 1932 on one of the finest crus of the Champagne, the village of Cramant north of the Côte des blancs.
A family-run, independent firm specializing in Champagnes Blanc de blancs whose great finesse helped build its reputation, today it reigns over a 22-hectare vineyard classified as Grand Cru.
It was in 1932 that Fernand Bouquement founded his own house of Champagne. In the aftermath of the SecWorld War II, he was joined by his son-in-law André Bonnaire, who proved to be particularly passionate about vine growing and paid a great deal of attention to it. His son Jean-Louis took over and made Maison Bonnaire one of the most renowned in the Côte des blancs region. A particularly talented winemaker, he spent the last years of his life sharing his passion with his two sons, Jean-Etienne and Jean-Emmanuel, who today represent the fourth generation. Faithful to their father's memory and philosophy, they continue to produce chiseled Champagnes of great freshness and energy.
To date, the Bonnaire family is one of the largest owners of vineyards classified as Grand Cru in the village of Cramant, with 22 hectares planted mainly with Chardonnay, as well as Pinot Noir... See more ...
This is one of the two parcel-based cuvées of Domaine. It is located in the Cramant commune in Grand Cru, on the very special Le Bateau locality, which rests on limestone and saline soils, a reminder of the ocean that existed in Champagne millions of years ago. Note that brothers Bonnaire, Jean-Etienne and Jean-Emmanuel, fourth generation, have chosen eco-pasture in these parcels of lieu-dit and are currently happily testing dwarf Maori domestic pigs from New Zealand called Kunekune.
If we had to sum up the 2016 vintage it would be: frost, hail, rain and disease. Without a very fine September the harvest would have been catastrophic. The Chardonnay was harvested late, after the reds (an exceptional occurrence), and offered a level of ripeness that was not always optimal. The high minerality of the Cramant terroir enabled us to produce a very high-quality harvest.
The Chardonnay berries from this "Le Bateau" parcel are vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, including malolactic fermentation. Then the wines undergo 5 years' ageing on laths in cork draw (instead of capsule) before disgorgement and dosage of 1.5 g/L, this is a Extra brut.
This Le Bateau cuvée has a pale yellow color with golden highlights. The nose is full of freshness with notes of citrus, apple and lemon zest, finishing on chalk. The mouth, creamy and opulent, is very well balanced with its gourmand side, pear, almond and caramel, and that long juicy finish, fresh herbs and salty notes.
This Blanc de blancs Le Bateau 2016 will easily and aptly accompany all elements of a seafood platter, but a simple apple and cinnamon tart will provide a magical pairing.
