Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Evelyne Roques – Boizel continues the tradition of women from Champagne who have inspired their house with drive and character. In 1984, she expressed the spirit which has guided the four generations of Boizels preceding her throughout its 150 year history in the motto, "A Family, A House, A Tradition". The House was founded by August in 1834, participating in the great adventure of the beginnings of Champagne. The House gradually built up a reputation in France and abroad, for August had already understood the importance of exporting. His son Edouard had immense wine – cellars tunneled into the flank of Mont Bernon and made the first bruts of the young House. He created vintage Champagnes, some of which rest to this day in the deepest of the Boizel cellars, in the vault known as "Tésor" (Treasure). Jules further developed export markets and from 1920 onwards produced a Cuvée "Blanc de Blancs" (100% Chardonnay), a rare choice at that time. After the war, his son, René Boizel, found himself at the helm of a House which had suffered greatly… All he had left were his cellars, the loyal friendship of his customers and, as a sportsman, great reserves of energy. He restored the House to the position it had occupied before and opened up new markets. He created the new "Joyau de France" (Jewel of France) special Cuvée, of which the first vintage dates back to 1961, one of the harvests of the century. In 1972, following the premature death of René and the illness and death of his son Eric, who had wished to move into the family business , Erica Boizel herself was obliged to become the torchbearer for the House. Her daughter Evelyne, with a degree in history and a diploma in museology and her son - in – law Christophe Roques, an engineer, returned to the fold at that time, to learn the new profession that awaited them. They continued the business, and in 1994 decided to join the Boizel, Chanoine Champagne group. Their studies had destined them for different horizons from these, but the Family, the House, the Tradition… What was that we were saying about passion?
Associated with luxury, celebration, and romance, the region, Champagne, is home to the world’s most prized sparkling wine. In order to bear the label, ‘Champagne’, a sparkling wine must originate from this northeastern region of France—called Champagne—and adhere to strict quality standards. Made up of the three towns Reims, Épernay, and Aÿ, it was here that the traditional method of sparkling wine production was both invented and perfected, birthing a winemaking technique as well as a flavor profile that is now emulated worldwide.
Well-drained, limestone and chalky soil defines much of the region, which lend a mineral component to its wines. Champagne’s cold, continental climate promotes ample acidity in its grapes but weather differences from year to year can create significant variation between vintages. While vintage Champagnes are produced in exceptional years, non-vintage cuvées are produced annually from a blend of several years in order to produce Champagnes that maintain a consistent house style.
With nearly negligible exceptions, . These can be blended together or bottled as individual varietal Champagnes, depending on the final style of wine desired. Chardonnay, the only white variety, contributes freshness, elegance, lively acidity and notes of citrus, orchard fruit and white flowers. Pinot Noir and its relative Pinot Meunier, provide the backbone to many blends, adding structure, body and supple red fruit flavors. Wines with a large proportion of Pinot Meunier will be ready to drink earlier, while Pinot Noir contributes to longevity. Whether it is white or rosé, most Champagne is made from a blend of red and white grapes—and uniquely, rosé is often produce by blending together red and white wine. A Champagne made exclusively from Chardonnay will be labeled as ‘blanc de blancs,’ while ones comprised of only red grapes are called ‘blanc de noirs.’
A term typically reserved for Champagne and Sparkling Wines, non-vintage or simply “NV” on a label indicates a blend of finished wines from different vintages (years of harvest). To make non-vintage Champagne, typically the current year’s harvest (in other words, the current vintage) forms the base of the blend. Finished wines from previous years, called “vins de reserve” are blended in at approximately 10-50% of the total volume in order to achieve the flavor, complexity, body and acidity for the desired house style. A tiny proportion of Champagnes are made from a single vintage.
There are also some very large production still wines that may not claim one particular vintage. This would be at the discretion of the winemaker’s goals for character of the final wine.