Location and history
Champagne Boizel is based in the city of Épernay in Champagne, at Avenue de Champagne 46. The house was founded in 1834 by Auguste Boizel and Julie Martin and originally bore the name Boizel-Martin. The Boizel family has been running the Champagne house for six generations. In 1872, the first Brut Champagnes were produced, and in 1929 the first Blanc de Blancs.
Vineyard holdings and winemaking
The company’s own vineyards cover 7 hectares and are located, among other places, in Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. In addition, grapes are sourced from partner winemakers from Grand-Cru and Premier-Cru locations in the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims, as well as from selected vineyards in the Vallée de la Marne.
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier are processed separately by grape, cru and plot. Each plot and each cru is vinified separately in small tanks. In addition to temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, barrels and large wooden vessels are used; a malolactic fermentation is also carried out. The technical facilities in Épernay were renovated in 2018 and include, among other things, a cellar for barrels, large wooden vessels and small tanks.
Aging
The wines mature on the lees in the house’s cellars. The regular aging period is at least three years. Joyau de France can be stored for up to 15 years, while the Trésor Collection matures for several decades.
Cuvées
Brut Réserve is a non-vintage cuvée made from 40% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay and 25% Meunier. It brings together wines from around 30 crus, contains only must from the first pressing, as well as 40% reserve wines, and is aged for three years on the lees at a dosage of 7 g/l. La Montagne Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru is produced exclusively from Pinot Noir from the Grand-Cru and Premier-Cru locations of the Montagne de Reims, including Cumières, Mailly and Chigny-les-Roses. The cuvée is aged for three years on the lees and has a dosage of 6 g/l. Ultime Zéro is a Brut Nature made from the three grape varieties, contains 30% reserve wines, is aged for five years on the lees and is bottled without dosage. Rosé Absolu consists of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier; 8% of the Pinot Noir is vinified as a red wine. The aging period is three years with a dosage of 7 g/l. Joyau 2013 is a vintage cuvée made from 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay from selected Grand-Cru and Premier-Cru locations. Ten percent of the wines were vinified in old oak barrels, after which the cuvée aged for ten years on the lees.
