Alfred Bonville was a bit of a visionary – or a madman – depending on the fickle passing of time. When he began purchasing formerly pristine vineyard land…all recently devastated to barren wastelands by the ravagings of phylloxera, it was certainly the latter. He purchased a number of plots, under the strict parameter that all parcels fell within a few hours by horse from his home in Oger – so that he could carefully manage their re-planting and continued upkeep. Then, in the aftermath of a global depression – he dug in further still, adding a winegrower’s house in the heart of Avize – complete with press, casks, and a cellar from the 1800s. More madness, it would seem. And yet now, over a century later, he certainly must be recognized as a pioneer as the Bonville family has become a model amongst prosperous Champagne families. Generations after Alfred’s risks, Olivier Bonville is also forging his own path. In order to occupy his ample free time as the vintner and CEO for Champagne Franck Bonville (that’s sarcasm, by the way), he recently started this project with a rather ambitious mission…enter Champagne Odyssée 319. 

Like Odysseus of old, Olivier and his stepson Ferdinand Ruelle, are planning to set off on a journey…through the 319 villages in the Champagne appellation. But the journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step…and so we enter “Day One”. Not far from their base in Avize, you’ll find the vines of Le Levant – alluding to the rising sun and the lands southeast of Avize village. Here, the grapes ripen and mature earlier than elsewhere in the village, producing a beautiful roundness, and spicy and fresh mintiness. Proliferating notes of lemon, chalk, and crisp, green apples, with a zesty orange peel sensation, and plenty of fresh lemongrass and spearmint – all complemented with yeasty, sourdough notes, and a creamy richness…this is complex, and full of verve, and exceptionally drinkable throughout. 

While it may be one of their first offerings under this new venture – the experience and careful precision of generations of grape-growing and winemaking is evident here…as promising of an entry into the world of Champagne as we have seen. The next stops on their journey will likely take them near to their other holdings in Oger and Mesnil-sûr-Oger – but from there? We can’t wait to find out!