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Inside Franck Bonville: A Taste of Authentic Côte des Blancs Excellence

Franck Bonville Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs

The Franck Bonville champagne house traces its roots back to approximately 1900, though significant modernization occurred during the 1970s and 1990s. Today, this Grand Cru producer manages 77 plots across 15 hectares (34 acres) in three Grand Cru villages: Avize, Oger, and Le Mesnil sur Oger. Additionally, the estate produces approximately 130,000 bottles annually, focusing on single-cru, single-vintage bottlings that showcase the distinct character of their wines.

Franck Bonville stands as one of the distinguished names in the prestigious Côte des Blancs region of Champagne. Nestled among six Grand Cru villages in an area spanning 12 miles of chalk-rich soils, this family estate has been crafting exceptional champagnes since after World War II. The Côte des Blancs is renowned for its Chardonnay vineyards, with the grape comprising an impressive 95% of the total vineyard area.

Currently undergoing a gradual conversion to organic farming, Franck Bonville has held the Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification since 2016. Their champagnes are characterized by mineral strictness and express the unique terroir of their Grand Cru vineyards. This article explores the fascinating world of Franck Bonville, from their exceptional terroir to their meticulous winemaking approach that has established them as masters of blanc de blancs champagne.

From Soil to Cellar: The Terroir Behind Franck Bonville Champagne

AVIZE Location

The magic of Franck Bonville champagne begins in the chalky soils of the Côte des Blancs. This special stretch of land features a unique geological formation with exposed Campanian chalk dating back approximately 80 million years. The estate's vineyard consists of over 80 parcels exclusively dedicated to Chardonnay, spread across four Grand Cru villages: Cramant, Avize, Oger, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.

What makes this terroir truly exceptional is the chalk's remarkable properties. One cubic meter of pure chalk can store up to 400 liters of water, acting as a natural reservoir that ensures steady water supply even during the driest summers. Furthermore, this porous material regulates temperature and promotes excellent drainage while drawing water through capillary action—creating ideal growing conditions for vines.

Avize represents the largest portion of the Bonville family vineyard. Here, the chalk lies relatively close to the surface in mid-slope parcels such as Les Champs Armés and Les Pierre Vaudon. Wines from these areas exhibit intense fruity character with floral and citrus notes, alongside distinctive salinity and freshness—quintessential characteristics of Avize Chardonnay.

In contrast, Oger forms a natural amphitheater where the lieu-dit Les Rumignies (used for the Pur Oger cuvée) produces deeper, more dense wines. Meanwhile, the parcels in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger are almost exclusively located at the boundary between the slope and plain, where marine chalk is particularly aromatic. These wines display intense salinity that can seem almost austere in youth but develop generous complexity after several years of aging.

As Ferdinand Ruelle-Dudel of the estate notes, "Understanding our parcels, our terroirs, and our wines must encompass all geological, viticultural, and human factors". This comprehensive understanding of the Côte des Blancs' diverse micro-terroirs allows Franck Bonville to craft champagnes that genuinely express the distinctive character of each plot.

Crafting Champagne: The Bonville Winemaking Approach

Franck Bonville winemaker

At the heart of Franck Bonville's winemaking philosophy lies a meticulous balance between tradition and innovation. Olivier Bonville, who joined the family business in 1996 after graduating from Avize Viti Campus and studying enology at Reims University, oversees the transformation of their exceptional Grand Cru Chardonnay into world-class champagne.

The estate employs a thoughtful approach to vinification, utilizing both modern technology and traditional methods. Thermostatically controlled stainless steel vats allow for precise temperature management during fermentation, resulting in clean, pure aromas and preserving the distinctive mineral character of their terroir. However, Franck Bonville also vinifies and ages certain wines in 228L oak barrels and 600L demi-muids, enhancing complexity without overwhelming the delicate Chardonnay profile.

Aging on lees represents a crucial element in developing the champagne's personality. Depending on the cuvée, Franck Bonville ages their wines from 2 to 8 years on lees—significantly exceeding the legal minimum of 15 months required in Champagne. This extended contact with spent yeast cells develops tertiary aromas of brioche, fresh toast, and baked apples, moreover imparting a creamy texture underpinned by the distinctive saline backbone characteristic of Côte des Blancs.

With climate change presenting new challenges for preserving freshness, Olivier takes a considered approach to malolactic fermentation. Instead of following a rigid formula, he makes decisions annually based on each wine's individual needs and balance. Consequently, some vintages may undergo full malolactic fermentation, others partial, and some none at all.

Dosage—the final addition of sugar solution before bottling—receives equal attention at Franck Bonville. Through blind trials, Olivier determines the perfect level for each cuvée, seeking not sweetness but harmony that respects the elegant balance of their Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs.

Currently certified Haute Valeur Environnementale, the estate has eschewed chemical herbicides and pesticides for over a decade, essentially reflecting their commitment to sustainability as they gradually convert their 77 parcels to fully organic viticulture.

A Taste of Time: Signature Wines and Vintage Stories

Franck Bonville Champagnes

Time serves as the final ingredient in Franck Bonville's exceptional champagnes, with each cuvée reflecting its distinctive terroir through patient aging. The house's signature Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru ages for a minimum of 2.5 years, while their prestige vintages and special cuvées rest for 5-6 years in the cellar. This extended maturation undeniably contributes to the development of their champagnes' characteristic complexity.

The flagship Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru combines freshness, finesse, and elegance, making it an ideal aperitif companion. Disgorged 9 months after bottling with a dosage of 9g/L, it showcases the classic mineral backbone of Côte des Blancs Chardonnay. The prestigious Prestige cuvée, aged 4 years in the cellar with a dosage of 6.67g/L, delivers a creamy texture balanced by minty freshness.

Beyond these expressions, Franck Bonville crafts terroir-specific bottlings that spotlight individual villages. Notably, the Pur Oger 2018 comes from two grand cru parcels in Oger with 4.2g/L dosage, while Pur Avize 2015 presents notes of flowers, almond paste, and white-fleshed fruit. Both receive extended aging—5 years under cork for Pur Oger.

The jewel in Bonville's crown remains Les Belles Voyes, sourced from a 0.8-hectare plot in Oger planted in 1960. Unlike their other cuvées, this exceptional wine undergoes fermentation in oak barrels before 5 years of bottle aging, resulting in an exceptional aromatic bouquet with pastry notes balanced by subtle oxidation.

Even the Rosé Grand Cru demonstrates meticulous craftsmanship, blending 90% Avize Chardonnay with 10% Pinot Noir from Ambonnay to create a silky champagne with subtle red fruit aromas.

Each bottle from Franck Bonville tells a story of patience, precision, and profound respect for their Grand Cru terroir.

Conclusion

Throughout the decades, Franck Bonville has established itself as a true guardian of Côte des Blancs terroir excellence. Their unwavering focus on Grand Cru Chardonnay across 77 meticulously tended plots demonstrates a deep commitment to quality rather than quantity. This family estate certainly stands apart through their patient approach to champagne production, allowing time to become an essential ingredient in their winemaking process.

The distinctive chalky soils of Avize, Oger, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger undeniably shape the character of each Franck Bonville cuvée. Additionally, their gradual conversion to organic practices alongside their existing Haute Valeur Environnementale certification reflects a forward-thinking mindset balanced with respect for tradition.

Olivier Bonville's thoughtful winemaking philosophy shines through every bottle produced. His decisions regarding fermentation, aging, and dosage reflect a nuanced understanding of both terroir and vintage variation. The result? Champagnes that speak eloquently of place while maintaining exceptional balance and finesse.

From their flagship Brut Blanc de Blancs to the prestigious Les Belles Voyes, each champagne tells a unique story of its origins. The extended aging periods—far exceeding legal minimums—allow these stories to develop depth and complexity over time.

Franck Bonville ultimately represents champagne at its most authentic and expressive. Their wines showcase the perfect marriage between exceptional Grand Cru terroir, meticulous vineyard management, and patient cellar work. For those seeking to experience the true essence of Côte des Blancs Chardonnay, Franck Bonville offers an unparalleled journey through the finest expressions of this remarkable region.

Franck Bonville Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Pur Avize 2016

Franck Bonville Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Pur Avize 2016

HKD 830.00

Franck Bonville Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Pur Mesnil 2016

Franck Bonville Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Pur Mesnil 2016

HKD 830.00

Franck Bonville Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut

Franck Bonville Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut

HKD 410.00

Franck Bonville Cuvee Les Belles Voyes Grand Cru Oger 2015

Franck Bonville Cuvee Les Belles Voyes Grand Cru Oger 2015

HKD 720.00

HKD 740.00

Check All Franck Bonville Champagne Here

References

  1. https://www.lerougeetleblanc.com/en/vignobles-de-france/avize-unity-diversity-1418.html
  2. https://champagne-franck-bonville.com/en/the-terroir
  3. https://www.champagne.fr/en/about-champagne/the-champagne-terroir/champagne-and-its-soil
  4. https://www.premiumgrandscrus.com/en/30_franck-bonville