Bonnet-Ponson Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs 2013 by Jules Bonnet

Grape Makeup:

100% Pinot Noir

Sweetness Level:

Extra Brut

Ageing on Lees:

8 years

Price:

$$

Cellar:

Up to 5 years

What

A fast-rising, certified organic grower focused on old vines in great premier and grand crus of the Montagne de Reims, making wines in the area since 1862.

Where

Chamery, Montagne de Reims; 10+ha in Chamery, Vrigny, Coulommes la Montagne, Verzenay and Verzy (the last two are Grand Crus).

Why

Over the past 10 years that Cyril Bonnet has been working at the family domain, he has shifted towards a lower-intervention style (eschewing filtration and added yeasts and minimising dosage and sulfites) that is nonetheless clear and expressive.  This wine comes from a massale selection (biodiverse planting) of pinot noir from Verzenay and Chamery in the Montagne de Reims and is fermented and matured for 9 months in barriques before the second fermentation.

What else

Their rosé is beautiful and delicate, with creamy yellow cherry fruit, mace and white pepper and a very pale onion skin colour – quite different in style from many of the bold, ruby-toned rosé champagnes favoured in natural wine circles.

Tasting Notes

With a nose like a freshly baked bran muffin, this also gives subtle hints of citrus peel, but it is predominantly rich with nutty, oxidative tones. A little smudged and indistinct on the entry, the same nuttiness and toast of the nose continues on the palate, not clearly leaning either savoury or sweet. Yellow apple fruit turns a little cider-y to finish. Everything is very seamless and the acidity nicely balances when sweetness is present (not much).

Try It With

Roast goose or duck.

When To Drink

After dinner.

Perfect For

The friend who already knows all the grower champagnes you've mentioned to them.

TL/DR

Rich, nutty, and lightly cider-y.

Supplier

Deco Wines