"This is a great showing from Cedric Bouchard."
2010 Cédric Bouchard Inflorescence
Val Vilaine Blanc de Noirs
Lowest Price in the Nation
"The NV (2010) Blanc de Noirs Inflorescence Cote de Val Vilaine is fabulous. The breadth and richness of Pinot Noir meets the tension of the year in this vibrant, beautifully articulated Champagne" -Antonio Galloni
Bouchard's Inflorescence is, for sure, the Champagne that we have the most difficulty keeping in stock.
It's a Champagne that so overdelivers for its price that it's developed a huge cult following. Bouchard's Inflorescence delivers a massive concentration and a staining vinosity into a rigid, clear and taut mineral framework.
It's unreal how much complexity and nuance he crams in here.
We've been supporters from the start and see what (for Bouchard) is a good allocation. However, it always sells out in a flash and then it's gone until the next vintage. The 2010 Inflorescence is in stock now so if you want some, now is the time.
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Four years ago, Cedric Bouchard swiftly moved to the forefront of grower Champagne. Antonio Galloni's Champagne coverage placed Bouchard at the top of his list with heavyweights like Krug's Clos du Mesnil, vintage Selosse, DP Oenotheque, etc. It was an incredible introduction for a producer few had ever heard of.
Part of Bouchard's secret is his hands on, ultra-conscientious farming and winemaking. He's adamant about keeping the size of the domaine small enough to allow him to see to every detail himself. This is good news for quality, but this also means that as Bouchard's reputation continues to grow availability will only grow more painful.
Bouchard's philosophy is at odds with the dominant thinking of Champagne. In many ways, his orientation is more Burgundian: all of his wines are based on a single vineyard, single varietal and single vintage bottled without dosage or filtration and the result of what for Champagne are very low yields.
Cédric Bouchard organically farms vineyards in the Aube, way down in the south of the Champagne region. His Val Vilaine site is 1.5 hectares of south-facing Pinot Noir vines that were planted in 1974.As he does so for all his wines, Bouchard is ruthless about selection tossing or selling grapes or wines that he doesn't think are up to par.
The results are explosive: full of flourishes and opulence yet at the same time so, so impressively detailed in its expression of crisp fruit, a giant bouquet of wildflowers and minerals. This blanc de noirs flaunts all the power, richness, exoticism of the Pinot grape, begging to be swirled and sniffed, almost like a Burgundy... but it somehow manages this with a simultaneous precision and intensity that's unlike anything else coming out of Champagne right now.
The 2010 vintage in Champagne is too varied to fit into a nice one sentence summary. The Aube, particularly Pinot Noir in the Aube, is one of the vintage's biggest successes. The August rains were much, much less severe in the Aube than the Marne and Montagne de Reims further north. It's also a vintage were the most dedicated growers really distanced themselves from the pack.
Bouchard's fastidiousness in the vineyard really paid off in 2010. The wines have a power and richness yet maintain a clarity and tension. The combination is really lovely.
He always releases his wines early, and they need some time in bottle (as well as in the glass) to open up fully, to really show off, and 2010 in particular deserves bigger-bowled glasses and, in fairness, a good spread on the dinner table and a couple hours to evolve.
Again, this parcel, while a decent size, will not last. You should give us your maximum order, but expect that we'll need to make allocations. We'll do our best!
To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits
2010 Cédric Bouchard Inflorescence
Val Vilaine Blanc de Noirs
Antonio Galloni: "The NV (2010) Blanc de Noirs Inflorescence Cote de Val Vilaine is fabulous. The breadth and richness of Pinot Noir meets the tension of the year in this vibrant, beautifully articulated Champagne. Sweet red berries, crushed rocks, flowers and mint all come alive in the glass. The 2010 is quite a bit more taut than the 2009, but at the same time much more accessible than I expected. A weightless, crystalline finish rounds things out in style. This is a great showing from Cedric Bouchard."