Champagne Franck Bonville Rosé Grand Cru NV

…a wonderful array of red cherries, wild strawberries, mixed spice and lifted hints of rose petal. Acidity and dosage meld seamlessly on a long finish that glides very long and harmonious with the signature, fine chalk minerality of Avize and the gentle, fine tannin grip of Ambonnay. A rosé of elegance and salt mineral precision.

The Bonville family has been making champagne since 1947 from 20ha of Grand Cru chardonnay. A spicy rose petal bouquet and palate lead onto a seductive, gently savoury finish.

Serious stuff here. Scents of brioche, rose hip tea, brown sugar, bread dough. Palate is tight but cuddled by foamy bubbles, quite intense, lots of concentration, sour cherry, spice, biscuit dough, ginger, cinnamon. Powerful style, vigorous and intense, savoury and fruit driven at once. Unrelenting-feeling thing here. Very good wine.

The nose is reminiscent of strawberry shortcake and spice with a savoury overlay of slightly oxidative nutty and smoky complexities. It’s rich, mature, and quite traditional in style, a Champagne to drink with food. There’s good depth of flavour and it’s relatively dry with just enough dosage…

…pale salmon colour and hints of sour cherry and aldehyde on the nose. The palate’s crisp, with delicate flavours, a nice savoury touch and finishes dry.

Medium pink colour with a tint of copper. Substantial aldehydes on the nose, quite complex and mellow, the palate relatively dry and savoury, refreshingly dry and appetising on the finish. Very good.