2012 Franck Bonville "Pur Avize" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

Sourced from three specific vineyards in Avize (Les Chapelles, Les Avats and Les Maladries), the 2012 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Pur Avize is a bright colored Côte des Blancs with a terrific deep and aromatic bouquet of smooth chalk, juicy tropical fruit and lemon notes. Lush and refined on the palate, this is a light, fresh yet complex, highly elegant and perfectly balanced Chardonnay with juicy fruit, delicately creamy texture and a pure, vitalizing finish with lingering pineapple and brioche flavors. This is a picture-book aperitif Champagne from Avize! Picked and pressed on September 22nd, bottled in April 2013, aged under cork and disgorged as Extra Brut with just two grams of dosage per liter in April 2018. This frisky, lighthearted and stimulating 2012 already drinks beautifully but can be cellared for at least 5 to 6 years. Tasted July 2018. (SR)

Although this will not be arriving until late October of this year, I am writing them up to let people know about them because this is part of an unforgettable trio that is new from our beloved Franck Bonville. Of the three selections (including "Pur Mesnil" and "Pur Oger"), this one is the leesiest! A nose of cream and fresh cut pears. It lingers on the palate with with tart orange and lemon/lime flavors. Quite linear, with a long, long finish, which seems to be the hallmark of this line. Superb!