This cuvée is produced by the Maison Boulard Bauquaire (Recoltant Manipulant). The cuvée Mélanie is produced in approximately 3.300 bottles for year.
This cuvée is produced by the Maison Boulard Bauquaire (Recoltant Manipulant).
The cuvée Mélanie is produced in approximately 3,300 bottles per year. Before the 2012 vintage this cuvée was not vintage. I remember when, a few years ago, I tasted the Cuvée Mélanie I was surprised that it was not vintage and I suggested to the owner Christophe and his importer Gaetano Gulli, to make it vintage.
Maison Boulard-Bauquaire is located in the village of Cornicy, 20 km from Reims.
The vineyards are located in Cornicy, Hermonville, La Neuville aux Larris, Monthurel and Trepail and have different terroirs (Massif de Saint Thierry, Montagne de Reims and Vallée de la Marne), the maison does not use pesticides and practices grassing and all organic practices in compliance with the champagnoise tradition and HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) certification. There are 8 hectares of vineyards and the total bottles produced, per year, are about 70,000. Since the 2012 vintage, the Cuvée Mélanie is vintage. It is a Blanc de Blancs, with 100% Chardonnay grapes. The importer in Italy is Relais & Terroirs srl of Gaetano Gulli, based in Lucca.
Following are the tasting notes of the four champagnes tasted.
DOMAINE BOULARD-BAUQUAIRE
BLANC DE BLANCS, CUVÉE MÉLANIE, Vintage 2014.
She wears a bright intense golden yellow, with coppery reflections.
The bubbles are very fine and numerous.
Rich and varied nose made of vanilla, brioche bread, rennet apple, blond leather, ripe banana, juniper berry, iodine, helichrysum, mint, eucalyptus, sweets from the outside of the sugared almond, alchermes, flowers (calla?), Cognac , mandarin leaf peel, mountain herbs, to finish with flavors of Coccoina glue (coconut and almond milk). On the palate the bubbles are fine and caressing, the body is medium, and has salty, mineral and rennet apple flavors. Balanced wine with imperceptible alcoholic mass thanks to the freshness, flavor and minerality. Its gustative persistence is long with a generous salt and lemon finish.
Complex champagne on the nose and on the palate.
(96/100)
DOMAINE BOULARD-BAUQUAIRE
BLANC DE BLANCS, CUVÉE MÉLANIE, Vintage 2013.
Bright golden yellow color. Fine bubbles initially quite fine and then fine. Nose made of aromas of vanilla, brioche bread, soft cheese, rennet apple, chalk, butter, pastry, blond leather, mint, eucalyptus, honey, milk cream, ripe tomato rubbed on bread, to finish with whispers of ripe banana. When tasted, it reveals fine bubbles and a medium body. Flavors of salt and lemon (not like 2014) and green rennet apple. It has a generous freshness that dominates the alcoholic mass. Its gustative persistence is long, with a slightly sour end of rennet apple.
(93/100)
DOMAINE BOULARD-BOUQUAIRE
BLANC DE BLANCS, CUVÉE MÉLANIE, Vintage 2012.
Shiny golden yellow mantle. The bubbles are very fine and numerous.
From the glass rise aromas of chalk, brioche bread, intense of brewer’s yeast, iodine, intense Coccoina glue (coconut and almond glue), salt, ending with memories of rubbed flint.
On the palate the bubbles are fine and the body is medium. Rich is the flavor (but not like 2014). Flavors of lemon, yellow grapefruit, almond shell and unripe rennet apple. Balanced wine between alcohol and freshness. Its gustative persistence is long with an unripe rennet apple finish.
(91/100)
DOMAINE BOULARD-BOUQUAIRE
BLANC DE BLANCS, CUVÉE MÉLANIE
not vintage (contains 2010 and 2011 vintages)
It shines golden yellow. The bubbles are fine and numerous.
At the olfactory encounter the scent of sulfur stands out, followed by notes of chalk, pastry, ash from the fireplace, intense juniper berry, mint fernet, lupine, iodine, rennet apple, helichrysum, extinguished candles, orange peel mold, green banana peel, to finish with pinches of curry and coriander.
To the taste the bubbles go out a little. Flavors of ripe jujube, intense of juniper berry, lemon, cedar and yellow grapefruit. The wine is balanced with the freshness that dominates the alcoholic mass. The body is medium and its gustative persistence is long.
(90/100)
