Francis Boulard Les Murgiers Brut Nature Champagne

"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 heart of the wine is always Meunier, mainly from 6 west-facing parcels in the Vallée de la Marne, west of Cumières in the commune of Paradis. The average age of Boulard's 1.2 hectares here is 35 years but some of the vines go back to family plantings in 1964. The farming is certified-organic with biodynamic practices, a complete rarity in the area. The heavy clay-limestone soils are hard to work and especially suitable for Meunier.