Presentation
For over a century, Domaine Bonnet Gilmert has honed its craft in the heart of the Côte des Blancs, the cradle of great Chardonnay champagnes. Based in Oger a Grand Cru village the estate exclusively cultivates Chardonnay on chalky soils that lend finesse and striking minerality to its wines. While many Champagne houses blend grape varieties, Bonnet Gilmert focuses solely on the purity of Chardonnay. Vinified exclusively in stainless steel, the wines retain their natural tension and freshness. Harvesting is done by hand, ensuring optimal grape selection. Prolonged aging on lees sometimes for up to five years brings out delicate brioche notes and remarkable aromatic complexity, all while maintaining a fine and elegant mousse. These are precision-driven champagnes, distinguished by bright aromas of citrus and white flowers, a silky texture, and a subtle saline finish a pure expression of the exceptional terroir of Oger.
Location
Champagne Bonnet Gilmert Grand Cru Rosé d’Assemblage Brut comes from carefully selected parcels in the Grand Cru villages of the Côte des Blancs, including Oger, Avize, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The vineyards enjoy ideal exposure, mostly south and southeast facing, optimizing sunlight throughout the season. This positioning, combined with gently sloping hills, ensures steady and balanced ripening, with natural airflow helping reduce disease pressure. These conditions give the cuvée a rich aromatic base and a distinctive elegance.
Terroir
The terroir is composed of deep, chalk-rich clay-limestone soils, typical of the Côte des Blancs. These soils provide excellent natural drainage while retaining enough moisture for healthy vine growth. Chalk lends tension, purity, and minerality, while clay contributes body and roundness. This combination enables the grape varieties to express remarkable aromatic complexity and fine structural balance.
In the vineyard
Bonnet Gilmert practices sustainable viticulture, focused on maintaining soil balance and biodiversity. The vineyards are carefully maintained with controlled ground cover and shallow tilling. Treatments are applied only when necessary and with precision. Harvesting is done by hand, ensuring only the ripest, healthiest grapes are selected. Each plot is picked separately to preserve the individuality of the terroir.
Harvest
The harvest for Champagne Bonnet Gilmert Grand Cru Rosé d’Assemblage Brut is carried out exclusively by hand, in keeping with traditional Champagne practices and a strong commitment to quality. Manual harvesting allows for meticulous selection of grape clusters, picked only when they reach optimal ripeness in terms of both aromatics and sugar-acid balance. Each plot is harvested separately to preserve its individual terroir expression and to determine the ideal picking date for each parcel. The grapes are then quickly transported to the press to maintain freshness and fruit integrity. This careful approach to harvesting is a key step in the creation of the cuvée, ensuring finesse, precision, and purity of expression.
Winemaking
Rosé d’Assemblage Brut is made from a blend of Chardonnay and a selected portion of Pinot Noir. After gentle pressing, fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and fruit character. A portion of still Pinot Noir is added to give color and fruit depth.
Ageing
The cuvée is aged on fine lees in bottle for about 48 months, developing texture, refining the mousse, and enhancing complexity.
Varietals
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Serving
Serving Temperature: 8 to 12°C
Tasting
The wine reveals a pale pink robe with fine, persistent bubbles. Aromas of wild strawberry, fresh raspberry, and redcurrant lead on the nose, with floral hints and toasted bread. Upon aeration, notes of candied citrus, rose, and biscuit emerge. The palate is lively, with silky texture and subtle minerality. The finish is long and refined, marked by citrus and red berry freshness.
Food pairings
This Grand Cru Rosé pairs beautifully with refined dishes. As a starter, enjoy it with sea bass carpaccio with citrus zest and fresh herbs. As a main, it complements free-range chicken with morels and light cream. For dessert, try it with red berry cheesecake and raspberry coulis. These pairings highlight its freshness, complexity, and elegance.