DECANTER 93 POINTS - " One of the Côte des Blancs rising stars, Paul Girard keeps a focus on cool, intense, linear Chardonnay; a classicist to some degree, with some enviable plots in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger, here combining with the bright 2021 base year to yield a wine that fits pale apricot and juicy white pear notes into a chalky, fine-boned frame, driven by citric acidity. There's barely an inch of fat on this racy extra brut, although it's a long way from austere."
JEB DUNNUCK 92 POINTS, VINOUS 92 POINTS & MORE! Girard-Bonnet is a new estate, located in the Grand Cru village of Les Mesnil sur-Oger, in the heart of the Côte des Blancs. Owned by Paul Girard, a young and passionate vigneron (born 1995) connecting his father, Philippe Girard's holdings in Les Mesnil, with his mother, Dominique Bonnet's holdings in Oger. Their 29 acres of vineyard land is split almost evenly between these two revered Grand Crus. Paul returned home in 2018, after studying viticulture and enology in Avize, followed by a double master's degree in Wine Management and Business. This, Paul's first bottling, Mi-Chemin ("Halfway between my parents - My Path"), is a blend of the 2019 and 2020 vintages; half Oger and half Les Mesnil, "just like me," Paul says. The wine is excellent, matching the plush, floral and ripe fruit of Oger with the saline and rigid structure of Les Mesnil. Girard is committed to organic viticulture (certified in 2022) and is Demeter certifying his vineyards in 2023, having started the process four years ago. The vineyards and the soil health are the basis for the quality he produces. The wine was vinified in a combination of stainless steel and barrel.
JEB DUNNUCK 92 POINTS, VINOUS 92 POINTS & MORE! Girard-Bonnet is a new estate, located in the Grand Cru village of Les Mesnil sur-Oger, in the heart of the Côte des Blancs. Owned by Paul Girard, a young and passionate vigneron (born 1995) connecting his father, Philippe Girard's holdings in Les Mesnil, with his mother, Dominique Bonnet's holdings in Oger. Their 29 acres of vineyard land is split almost evenly between these two revered Grand Crus. Paul returned home in 2018, after studying viticulture and enology in Avize, followed by a double master's degree in Wine Management and Business. This, Paul's first bottling, Mi-Chemin ("Halfway between my parents - My Path"), is a blend of the 2019 and 2020 vintages; half Oger and half Les Mesnil, "just like me," Paul says. The wine is excellent, matching the plush, floral and ripe fruit of Oger with the saline and rigid structure of Les Mesnil. Girard is committed to organic viticulture (certified in 2022) and is Demeter certifying his vineyards in 2023, having started the process four years ago. The vineyards and the soil health are the basis for the quality he produces. The wine was vinified in a combination of stainless steel and barrel.
