He and his daughter now have a little over 3 hectares primarily in Cormicy, north west of Reims in the woods of Saint-Thierry, otherwise known as the "little mountains of Reims", on siliceous limestone. They also have vines in Paradis (in the Marne valley), Cuchery, Cauroy-lès-Hermonville and Mailly-Champagne, a Grand cru classé village in the Montagne de Reims. Their Champagnes are organically certified and made from their Pinot holdings (40% Pinot meunier and 30% Pinot noir) planted on the massif de Saint-Thierry in the Vesle Valley and 30% Chardonnay. Delphine Boulard has now taken over from her father and succeeded in remaining true to her father’s house-style without denaturing their varietals or terroir.
Winemaking takes place by plot and utilises both tank and old oak barrels to favour micro-oxygenation and there is little dosage to remain as close as possible to the wines natural expression. The range of extra brut and brut nature, including Les Murgiers (a Pinot meunier dominant blend), are benchmarks in the family of powerful terroir-driven Champagnes. Les Rachais is 100% Chardonnay made from a unique parcel tended to using biodynamic practices, combining power and finesse. The rich nose is full of ripe orchard fruit, citrous, pastry, dried fruit and honey. The wine is full bodied yet finely textured and is powerful and long. Petrera is Boulard's take on a solera, each year's harvest is added to 50% of the blend of all the previous vintages added dating back to 2012 and is 100% organic. The nose is intense and generous with notes of white flowers and spices, whereas the mouth is rich and full-bodied yet fresh. Vieilles Vignes (meaning old vines) is a 100% chardonnay blanc de blancs, subtle and fresh with no dosage and a delicate nose of white flowers and citrus as well as a hint of minerality in the finish. Francis Boulard and his daughter's wines, grower Champagnes that merit the attention of the most demanding connoisseurs of bubbly.
Great vintages since the 1980's to be on the lookout for in Champagne in general: 1982, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2015 et 2018.
You can find Champagne wines and magnums from Francis Boulard at Vins & Millésimes as well as other Champagne houses, such as Bollinger, Dom Perignon, Roederer or Charles Heidsieck, and also smaller producers of Champagne, such as Egly Ouriet, Larmandier Bernier, Agrapart, Lahertefreres, Dehours & fils, Ruppert Leroy, Françoise Bedel, R. Pouillon, Eric Rodez, Chartogne Taillet, Selosse, Jacques Lassaigne or Benoit Marguet. Vins & Millesimes always offers the finest in aged wines and grands crus. All of our wines are always in stock and available for delivery.