Bonnaire Variance Blanc de Blanc

One of the first things I did once we were let out of lockdown was head down to La Espumosa Champagne Bar with a friend and order a bottle of this stuff. Check in later this week when I will write up about the bar. But first the champagne.

I couldn’t find a website for the Maison, as they call them in France, but the premiergrancrus.com site had this to say: ‘Since 1932, Bonnaire Champagne whose vineyard is located in Cramant, a village that is classified Grand Cru from the Côte des Blancs, elaborates its Champagne. The vineyard has long been property of the Bouquemont family and it was right after the second World War that André Bonnaire, by marriage, inherited the vineyard, which spreads today on around 25 hectares. The Bonnaire have also been a family of winegrowers for several generations. Jean-Louis Bonnaire, with help from his two sons Jean-Etienne and Jean-Emmanuel currently manages this Grand Cru Cramant House, located in the heart of the Champagne region.’

This is Blanc de Blancs Champagne which means it is made exclusively with Chardonnay. It is a cramant premier gran cru brut champagne fermented in oak barrels and aged in cellars for 5 years. The wine is then bottled then laid on laths in cellars for at least 5 years.

It has a colour between lemon and straw and a light scent of carbonation, with hints of yeast and white fruit.

The texture is nice with lovely tight bubbles. A light and refreshing champagne, dry with a slight finish. It has a hint of caramel in the flavour along with some fennel as well as citrus fruit.

Delicious!