Francis Boulard Champagne Brut Nature Blanc de Noirs Les Murgiers (2020 Base) NV 750ml

84% Meunier/6% Pinot Noir/10% Chardonnay. "Les Murgiers" is the beginning of the Boulard range and takes its name from that of traditional vineyard walls built from river stones dug up to make way for planting (alternatively spelled murgets, murgers, meurgers or meurgiers). It is a non-vintage wine made annually from around 80% of the current vintage with 20% reserve wines.The fruit for Les Murgiers comes mainly from family parcels scattered around the villages of Paradis, Cuchery and Belval-sous-Châtillon in the Vallée de la Marne northwest of Cumières. Notably, in this particular area of the Marne, there are 400 hectares of vines, of which only 3.2 hectares are farmed organically--1.2 hectares of those belong to Boulard and are certified organic. The average age of their vines is 35 years. The farming includes biodynamic practices, and all work including harvest is manual. As for all Boulard wines, the grapes are picked late with high ripeness in order to achieve balance in the final wines with minimal to no dosage. Each parcel is vinified separately. The bunches are gently pressed with a minute amount of sulfur, and only the first-press juice is used for Les Murgiers (or any of their other wines). The must is fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in used Burgundy barrels. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and a monthly batônnage in the same barrels. The blend is bottled in June in accordance with the biodynamic calendar. There is no fining and no addition of sulfur. The bottles are riddled and disgorged by hand after 2-3 years of aging sur lattes. Zero dosage.