Domaine Bonnaire "Cramant Grand Cru", Vintage 2014

Grand Cru chardonnay: “Bonnaire makes textbook Cramant for the sensualist. My private cellar is full of Bonnaire.” -Richard Juhlin in "4000 Champagnes". The style is opulent, rich, creamy (not Cremant but Cramant!), elegant, dry and long. Not rated yet, but Prestige Vintage in older vintages is top notch, and the domain has gotten better and better in recent years.
The domaine was one of the first to sell "slots Champagne" and is now managed by the 3rd generation, Jean-Etienne & Jean-Emmanuel Bonnaire (photo). The house is the largest private owner in the Grand Cru Côte de Blancs, with 22 hectares in Cramant, Avize, Oiry, Mesnil, etc. The methods are moving towards organic (currently HVE-3), with manual harvesting, full malo, etc.
Vintage 2014 was superb for chardonnay with Champagne in a minerally delicious style. Aged in bottle sur lie until disgorging January 2022 and then in bottle. Great now, but can be stored for 10-20 years. Disgorged January 2022, dosage 5 g/l (extra brut).
About the wine: 100% Chardonnay from Le Bateau and Les Terres de Buisson, two excellent parcels in Cramant with the oldest vines. The essence of Cramant in fine balance. Lively citrus acidity and nice minerality. A little fresh almond, a bit of bread crust and butter. Slightly candied fruit note signals the warm August, where cool nights kept the acidity in place. For aperitif, oily fish, risotto with seafood and mild creamy cheeses. Will continue to develop for many years. (as the domain has shown with its old vintages).
"Bonnaire's wines are creamy and opulent, with a sleekly polished richness. In the spectrum of Côte des Blancs champagnes, they tend to be on the generous side rather than the racy one, yet at the same time, they retain a firm structure and an intense minerality that reflects Cramant's chalky soils. ” — Peter Liem, Champagneguide.net