Champagne Franck Bonville – Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs at Alfavin
The Franck Bonville estate was founded in 1943 in Avize. In the early decades, all grapes were sold to other producers until Franck Bonville began bottling under his own label in the 1990s, producing rich, full-bodied, nutty Chardonnays. Today, Franck’s son Olivier Bonville manages the estate.
Inspired by Anselme Selosse, some top cuvées are vinified in new oak, though without reaching Selosse’s level of balanced fruit and oak integration. Olivier Bonville has developed a purer, more mineral-driven, drier style reminiscent of Chablis, earning particular recognition among enthusiasts for the PUR series.
Vineyards
The Franck Bonville estate owns around 15 hectares of vineyards in Grand Cru Avize, with an additional 5 hectares in Le Mesnil and Oger.
- Locations: Grand Cru Avize, Le Mesnil, Oger
- Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
- Vine Age: 25–40 years, over 70 in the oldest Oger parcel
- Soil: Chalky marl, deep and mineral-rich
- Yields: Low, with selective hand harvesting
Winemaking and Cellar Techniques
- Parcel-specific vinification to preserve terroir character
- Partial ageing in used oak barrels, primarily stainless steel tanks
- Little or no malolactic fermentation in the Blanc de Blancs
- Extended lees ageing: Standard Brut & Prestige 2–4 years, Prestige Cuvées 5–8 years
- Minimal dosage (Extra Brut) in top cuvées to highlight freshness and minerality
Franck Bonville Cuvées
Les Belles Voyes
Les Belles Voyes comes from a south-facing terroir in Oger, optimised for sun exposure and ripe, concentrated grapes. Vines over 70 years old provide intensity while deep chalky roots maintain mineral freshness. The first Belles Voyes cuvée combined excellent vintages 1998 and 1999. From 2012, it is also vinified as a vintage Champagne. Although previously the integration of fruit and oak was occasionally uneven, the subtle oak influence softens with time. With 2,000–3,000 bottles produced, it remains a sought-after rarity.
PUR Series: Pur Oger, Pur Avize, Pur Mesnil
Olivier Bonville aims for a refined, mineral, fresh style, less nutty and opulent, using the best old-vine parcels. The first PUR vintage is 2012. While initially showing clear oak influence, barrel ageing was discontinued after 2018. The 2018 PURs are softer, fruitier, and slightly less mineral, suggesting the beginning of a new stylistic direction.
Vintage, Prestige and Blanc de Blancs
The standard Blanc de Blancs, while classic, may feel slightly over-dosed for a Grand Cru Chardonnay, whereas the Prestige cuvée offers more complexity and harmony. Vintage Extra Brut in top years provides excellent value for a refined Champagne experience.
Conclusion
Franck Bonville is one of the leading Blanc de Blancs producers on the Côte des Blancs. While Selosse remains unique and unrivalled, Bonville does not quite reach the level of Agrapart or de Sousa in Avize. However, with careful selection, it is worth monitoring the development of Franck Bonville Champagnes for collectors and enthusiasts.
