"Les Murgiers" Brut Nature (2020 base)

84% Meunier/6% Pinot Noir/10% Chardonnay. "Les Murgiers" is the beginning of the Boulard range and takes its name from the traditional vineyard walls built from river stones dug up to make way for planting (and alternatively spelled murgets, murgers, meurgers or meurgiers). The fruit comes from several parcels in the Vallée de la Marne west of Cumières and in the Massif de St. Thierry in the Montagne de Reims. The average age of the vines is 35 years. Murgiers is always a Meunier-dominant blend and around 80% of the base vintage with 20% reserves.
Boulard's farming is certified-organic with biodynamic practices. The fruit is harvested at high ripeness in order to achieve balance with minimal to no dosage. Each parcel is vinified separately. The hand-harvested bunches are gently pressed, and only the first-press juice is used. It is fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in wood. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and is aged on its lees with periodic batônnage in used Burgundy barrels. It is bottled on biodynamic “fruit days” with no fining and no sulfur (small amount used at press only). Riddling and disgorgement are by hand; the 2020-base Murgiers was disgorged in December 2022 and received no dosage.