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By: Aaron Hughes | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 11/2/2022 | Send Email
Such a pretty and inviting nose on this Grand Cru from Franck Bonville. There's a gentle florality to it, but around that is softly wafting around a core of pear and a melange of citrus. The palate is clean and crisp and the fruit shines through from the first sip, the minerality shines through and contributes to the lingering and satisfying finish. All of Franck Bonville's wines have been a pleasant surprise and this is no exception!
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By: Lilia McIntosh | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 10/6/2021 | Send Email
I never get tired of tasting and drinking this Champagne every time it comes back in stock. It's that good! Brilliant and tremendously complex, it's one of the best expressions of Blanc De Blancs . On the palate you get delicious combination of light lemon curd and some chalky minerality. On the nose - meadow flowers and citrus blossom. No wonder it's always gone so fast from our shelves!
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By: Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 9/29/2021 | Send Email
This delectable all-Chardonnay Champagne has a wonderful little secret: at least 50% of what's in the bottle is reserve wines. So even though it's non vintage, Bonville is utilizing a lot of its premium older wine for this Grand Cru. This Champagne comes at you with bracing minerality and acidity. There are notes of green apple, lemon tart, and enough chalk to get stuck in your teeth. That pucker factor along with a velvety soft mouthfeel makes this one of my favorite go-to Champagnes.
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By: Tim Telli | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 9/29/2021 | Send Email
You'll be hard pressed to find a better deal in Blanc des Blancs Champagne than this offering from Franck Bonville. It is fresh and acidic with a fine chalk-filled core and a terrific texture that comes at a price that anybody can afford. Plus its all Grand Cru fruit from top quality terroir in the Côte des Blancs!
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By: Alex Schroeder | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/17/2020 | Send Email
Olivier Bonville carries on the tradition of his grandfather, Franck, producing wines of incredible finesse and complexity with his own prized vines in the Grand Cru villages of Avize and Mesnil on the Cote de Blancs. It has rich flavors of Anjou pear, Meyer lemon, white apricots and a touch of delicate spice with the lovely chalky minerality and zippy acidity that the Cote de Blancs is famous for. When you consider that similar offerings from the Big Houses cost three to four times more, this becomes a must-buy for anyone who dabbles in Champagne.
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By: Jennifer Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/13/2020 | Send Email
This Franck Bonville blanc de blanc is a grand cru that is often sold by the case. It is a trendy champagne that delivers 8.33 g/L dosage and will leave notes of lemon, white apricots and hints of pear on the palate. If you love minerality and crisp acidity with brioche, pear, pineapple, fuji and green apple flavors and a hint of brioche and umami at the finish, then this Cote de Blanc is a champagne for you.
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By: Steve Bearden | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/9/2020 | Send Email
When it comes to Champagne this is probably our all time staff favorite. The fact that it is a direct import and sells for less than half what it would if it went through the same distribution system as the big name brands doesn't hurt either. Fresh and ripe Chardonnay flavors, intense mineral notes and hints of earth leap from this vibrant and full-textured bubbly. Classy and delicious.
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By: Muriel Sarik | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/8/2020 | Send Email
Another great Grand Cru bottle at such a reasonable price, especially with 50% reserve wines which is almost never heard of. This is fresh and tart like grapefruit but has a roundness that softens that acidity to give it a tropical feel to the fruit. There is lots of minerals swirling in this bottle too. This champagne will hook you right at the very 1st sip! This is a can't miss out bottle!
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By: Miles Philippe | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/8/2020 | Send Email
I couldn’t ask for anything more from this champagne…I always have a few bottles tucked away somewhere in my stash! On the nose it’s clean and elegant with a slight white-floral aspect; on the palate the fruits are pure, lean, and beautiful, with the classic chalky texture that you find in all of the best champagnes; on the finish, it’s like an old friend that leaves 45 minutes after the first “Good-bye!” is said.
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By: David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/8/2020 | Send Email
This is basically the non-vintage champagne that everybody wants, everybody needs, and everybody can have! It checks every box. It suits any occasion. It fits nearly any budget. It delivers in every single way. Perfect blanc de blancs nose, vibrant soft white fruit, fresh crisp apples and citrus, slight saline, and that grand cru chalkiness that you can't miss. Lively, pointed and open - it slips from the glass like a slithering snake, just disappears. Where did it go? I don't know. Buy another. Buy a case. Don't think just drink.
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By: Gary Westby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/8/2020 | Send Email
This is one of K&L's best selling Champagnes for a very good reason. The Bonville family has some of the best terroir imaginable for growing Chardonnay--every acre that they own is super chalky, east-facing Grand Cru on the Cote des Blancs. They have been making their own Champagne here since the 1920s, and growing here for many generations before that. This is their entry level bottling, and what a way to start! It is made of at least half reserve wines, giving it not only the dry, chalky drive that makes this area famous, but also giving the wine toasty, creamy, delicious drinkability. A must-try for any Champagne lover!
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By: Chris DePaoli | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/11/2020 | Send Email
One of the K&L staff's all-time favorite producers earned its place for a reason, and the non-vintage Franck Bonville Grand Cru is another phenomenal example of classic blanc de blanc champagne. Floral, and bright, this wine fills the glass with Asian pear notes and subtle cream and chalk that, when matched with bracing acid, make for an awesome drink by itself or with many foods....Fried Chicken anyone?
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By: Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
Franck Bonville constantly tops the staff picks charts and this blanc de blanc is no exception. The nose is clean, with a nice minerality and subtle floralness that opens up the palate with its balanced acidity with a peach blossom note. The finish is what takes the cake for me amongst other wines at this price point. Long and mouthwatering, this is a must for parties and celebrations.
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By: Elsa Baez | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
I cannot express how amazing this bottle of Grand Cru champagne for this price. There are aromas of white flowers, golden apples, a hint of toast and finishes fresh, refined, with a touch of acid which is just enough to compliment the subtle rich and mineral texture. It's created with 50% reserves, which is a good amount to have in a bottling and aged just under 3 years on the lees. With all of these elements put together, it is really a top notch "gateway" Grand Cru champagne!
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By: Andrew Tobin | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 5/7/2019 | Send Email
I am a sucker for a good Blanc de Blanc. Something about the rich, round, honeyed quality that chardonnay based champagne can bring always puts a smile on my face. Franck Bonville is an exceptional producer, and when you can get your hands on a bottle of 100% Grand Cru fruit at a price this low, it's a no brainer in my mind. The nose is fot, with notes of cherry, vanilla, and white flowers. The Palate is laden with cashew, marzipan, and a long toasty finish. This is a beautiful wine made from exceptional fruit that for the the price, is going to be hard to beat!
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By: Christina Stanley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/9/2018 | Send Email
This wine is made from 100% Grand Cru fruit from Avize, Cramant and Oger. The palate is clean and subtly floral, but is fairly robust and has hints of under-ripe tropical fruit, a testament to the warmer vintage. With a dry, soft finish, this is an elegant wine sure to please the most discerning.
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By: Jordan Stone | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/8/2018 | Send Email
Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne for just $ 34.99! Lively and rich with flavors of apples some bready notes with a touch of saline and vanilla. Crisp and clean with persistent bubbles. This is a favorite at my house
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By: Cliff Spinola | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/6/2018 | Send Email
During our staff Champagne tasting today, this one stood out for me. Based on the 2015 vintage and using their estate-grown Grand Cru Chardonnay (50% of which are reserve), this wine is supple, refreshing, and refined. It checks all the boxes of what Champagne is supposed to be and leaves you wanting for more.
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By: Rachel Alcarraz | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/6/2018 | Send Email
The Franck Bonville Blanc de Blanc was the first Champagne I bought on the first night I worked at K&L, and it will always have a special spot in my heart. What makes it so special is the care and quality Olivier Bonville pours into his wines. Based on 2015, the Blanc de Blanc is half reserve wine from all estate fruit. Some time in barrel gives this Chardonnay a creamy, sweet citrus character, like that of a Meyer lemon or pink grapefruit. The chalky soil is not lost in this wine, either. A soft structure of dry white chalk elongates the palate and adds an extra level of complexity. It is a wine that never disappoints.
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By: Daniel Maas | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 5/24/2016 | Send Email
One of the following three statements is true, and the others are false! Let's see if you can pick the fact.
1: THE EARTH IS BIGGER THAN THE SUN
2: STANLEY KUBRICK WAS HIRED BY NASA TO FAKE THE MOON LANDING.
3. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET HIGH-END CHAMPAGNE FOR LESS THAN $35.
Well? What do you think? I was on the fence between the moon landing and champagne, UNTIL I opened a bottle of this unbelievable Grand Cru offering from what has become a huge staff favorite here in Hollywood. Immensely refreshing with clean peach and citrus fruit, subtle vanilla, and a long finish, this amount of deliciousness is even more ridiculous than those two false facts! Think about it!
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By: Mari Keilman | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 5/18/2016 | Send Email
The Franck Bonville Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs is crisp, refreshing and vibrant with just the perfect balance of green apple and lime on the nose and palate. This cuvee sets itself apart from other Blanc de Blancs with how the Bonville family is able to create a creamy, full-bodied palate in conjunction with the bright and zesty flavor profile. They were able to achieve the harmonious balance between the acidity, the elegance, finesse and balance in this entry level cuvee.
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By: Kyle Kurani | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/19/2015 | Send Email
Update 2014: The 2011 Vintage in Champagne was pretty terrible, turns out to be a blessing in disguise for one of my favorite bottles of Champagne in the store. Wanting to make sure he kept the quality up, Olivier Bonville declassified all of his high end and old vine vineyards into this little gem. The depth of fruit and minerality is what catches me off guard when I drink this wine, light and elegant, the chalk in the soils sing through the nose and offer a back bone that frames the entire wine. White flowers, golden apple, and a hint of spice cake. Vintage Champagne in disguise.
2011: The picture of elegance and class. Such pure and clean lines, a touch of citrus, a hit of minerality all delivered effortlessly on a find bead and sensuous mouth feel. One of my annual holliday favorites and sure to please any Champagne snob that might haunt your gatherings.
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By: Mahon McGrath | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 4/16/2014 | Send Email
Fresh and racy, showing crisp apple and citrus, with hints of mineral and brioche rounding out the palate, this focused and elegant Champagne is as good as--or better than--its previous incarnations, and remains a steal for the price.
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By: Christie Brunick | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/14/2011 | Send Email
The best deal in direct import Blanc De Blanc Champagne Yet! Its an entire staff favorite here at K&L, and once you try it you'll understand why. Its elegant and pure but has a richness on the palate that is creamy and fulfilling. This is my personal house Champagne! My favorite Champagne under $50 by far! This has no hard edges at all; it's completely seamless from start to finish. Crisp, with elegance, round and creamy richness, the Bonville is full of bright fruit and mineral notes. As much fun as bubbly gets! Try it ASAP!
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By: Jim Boyce | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 6/30/2011 | Send Email
This is another outstanding, easy to like champagne from Bonville. 100% estate chardonnay from three vintages, this bottle intertwines clean citrus and crisp apple with solid, chalky minerality to create some seriously great bubbles. Refreshing alone on a warm summer day or paired with some of your favorite seafood appetizers, this champagne is sure to please.
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By: Mike Barber | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 5/31/2011 | Send Email
Always one of our best direct import champagne producers! Clean, crisp, bright - and the price is amazing!
Top Value! Drink from 2011 to 2015
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By: Jason Marwedel | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 10/26/2010 | Send Email
Made from all estate fruit from Bonville’s Grand Cru vineyards in Avize, this champagne displays ripe citrus and apple fruit on the nose, followed by a rich mid palate and a snappy mineral finish. The Bonville Prestige has everything I am looking for in a Blanc De Blancs at an extremely reasonable price!
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By: Illya Haase | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 7/29/2010 | Send Email
For me, one of the best finds at our recent Champagne tasting! It's off-dry, with beautiful fruit and a nice toasty nose. All this from third generation winemaking family whose holdings consist of 15 hectares of Grand Cru vineyards. The winemaking here is all about elegance and finesse and allowing the terroir to speak for itself and it shows.
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By: Jeff Garneau | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 2/9/2010 | Send Email
This may be the best deal in Champagne that K&L offers. 100% Chardonnay. 100% Grand Cru fruit from some of the best vineyards in the Côte des Blancs. Don't write this wine off because you didn't pay more for it! This is an outstanding Champagne at an unbelievable price. It will delight you with its rich, creamy texture. Ripe pear and chalky mineral notes give way to toasty, fresh baked apple tart on the mid palate. The wine finishes with a crisp, zingy citrus note of Meyer lemon. Enjoy this wine alone, as a refreshing aperitif or together with chilled, cracked Dungeness crab.
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By: Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 11/2/2009 | Send Email
What a great producer Franck Bonville is! This excellence shows in the Brut Selection Blanc de Blanc. When one opens the bottle and pours some of this Champagne into a glass, beautiful aromas are the first teasing impression. The Champagne is dry and crisp with clean delicate flavors. Great alone or with lighter foods.
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By: Jacques Moreira | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 10/20/2009 | Send Email
If there is such a thing as a Champagne for everyday use, well this has to be it. Not because of the price, but for its quality and poise. Very crispy, citrousy end elegant. Perfect for hors d'oeuvres, seafood, egg dishes, guacamole, goat cheeses, and "fantastic" with caviar!
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By: Joe Manekin | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 7/6/2009 | Send Email
Very easy to like - soft textured, citrus and cream flavors. Plump, round and delicious. For someone who usually goes for a bit lean and austere, I'm always surprised I like this as much as I do. It's just delicious stuff.
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By: Scott Beckerley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/27/2008 | Send Email
There is simply no better Blanc de Blanc in the store at this price! Classic Avize minerality with crisp apple-y fruit, lemons, limes and wet stone aspects. A wonderful Chamnpagne with caviar or baked Brie. Too good of a value to pass up. We can also go for months without having this sparkler in stock. Also available in 375ml and magnum. It also comes in a gorgeous 2002 vintage as well!
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