OCTOBER 2024

Cyril Bonnet of Bonnet Ponson is the sixth generation of his family to make champagne in the beautiful village of Chamery. Though they had to relocate within the village once after their winery was destroyed in WWII, the heritage of winemaking remains unbroken. He farms 50 plots that are all farmed with the utmost care. The health of the soil is the most important part of vine growing here and as such, herbicides and pesticides are never used and even organic compounds used in organic and biodynamic farming are used as little as possible. The result is a biodiversity of plants, animals, insects and microorganisms allow the plants to grow their own defenses and survive in the harsh climate of Champagne. All of this leads ultimately to a balance in the glass that is unmatched in many other places. The base of the ’Non-Dose’ is a solera-style blend that dates back almost 50 years and is the ‘taste memory’ of Cyril’s ancestors. We recently had a bottle with some friends at an event where the occasion of celebration has long faded from memory but the bottle has not.  TECH INFO

The transition from father to son, traditional farming to Organics, and selling to the co-op and now making their own wine has been almost half a decade in the making. When it was time for Antoine to take over the family winery he decided he wanted to do things differently than his parents. Not only did they support him but they (and their youngest daughter) have built a family team around him to make the project successful. A new vineyard plot, a new winery and a new outlook on winemaking has yielded an amazing new small family grower-producer; Durdon Bouval based in Vincelles. This month their 100% Chardonnay ‘Candide’ will be arriving to club members. This wine has the finesse and fine laced aromatics and structure of classic Chardonnay but also features a surprising depth and body that feels serious and at the same time playful. The champagne strikes a balance of expected and unexpected that rewards the drinker. To make sure you are that drinker, put this in the fridge as soon as you get it and pop it when you get thirsty. You can thank us later! TECH SHEET