CH’NG Poh Tiong
Located on the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay, visitors to Boizel can tour their cellars, new winery, Trésor (containing vintages going back to 1834, 1870 and 1893), and enjoy a tasting at the Visitors’ Centre
Champagne Boizel has produced one of its greatest wines. In so doing, the Epernay-based house has been particularly demanding on its expertise.
Champagne Boizel’s top prestige cuvée – the jewel in their crown – Joyau de France 2008 checks in at just 3 g/l for the dosage.
Under Champagne regulations, below 3 grams per litre is a Brut Nature or Brut Zero. And between 3 and 6 g/l is Extra Brut.
Champagne Boizel has practically added nothing to the magnificent wine Nature has fashioned.
Jewel or Joyau de France 2008 is one of the greatest vintages Champagne Boizel has produced.
Joyau de France was created in 1961 by Rene Boizel, Junior Champion of France 1931 in rowing. He won the Coupe de Paris in the skiff category and toured Europe with his craft tied to the roof of his car
First created in 1961 (another legendary vintage of Champagne and also of Bordeaux) by Rene Boizel, Joyau de France was destined for greatness.
Rene Boizel was Junior Champion of France 1931 for rowing. Grandfather of present Champagne Boizel Managing Director Florent Roques-Boizel, Rene Boizel won the Coupe de Paris in the skiff category.
The sportsman toured Europe with his craft tied to the roof of his car. It was a swashbuckling sight no one could possibly miss.
With such dazzling sporting pedigree and natural good looks, Rene Boizel charmed everyone who met him. Doors could not wait to be opened.
Champagne Boizel Managing Director Florent Roques-Boizel had worked with a wine importer in New Zealand and was export manager at Maison Chapoutier in the Rhone Valley before joining the family business in 2010
Some of the most prestigious addresses in Paris happily added Champagne Boizel to their lists, including George V, Hotel Scribe, Ledoyen, Potel & Chabot and Café de Paris.
The Frenchman and his Dutch wife Erica also grew sales in Belgium, the Netherlands and West Germany.
More was to come.
In the 1950s, Hollywood and the jet-set embraced Boizel. Alfred Hitchcock was often sipping the bubbly. Prince Ali Khan ordered Boizel Rosé by the dozens of cases. The prince’s wife Rita Hayworth was probably the “instigator”.
For more on Champagne Boizel, check out www.boizel.com/en.
The glamorous Rita Hayworth was particularly enamoured of Champagne Boizel Rosé
In the 1950s Champagne Boizel conquered Hollywood. Alfred Hitchcock (photographed here promoting his movie “The Birds”) was a big fan
Tasting Notes
Champagne Boizel Joyau de France 2008
Joyau de France is produced from fruit that comes from Premier and Grand Cru villages. Pinot Noir is from Mailly, Cumieres and Chigny-les-Roses, while Chardonnay hails from Avize, Chouilly and Vertus. Only the first pressing is used. The blend is 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay and 10% of the wine was vinified in barrel. The wine spent 12 years on lees in bottle before disgorgement. The dosage is just 3 g/l. Bright, light gold. Intense, concentrated, compact citrus fruit. As the champagne opens up in the glass, white flowers, brioche, spice and a whiff of honey. Incredible, unrelenting freshness. At the moment, Joyau de France is a very youthful gem at 13 years young. With time – 10, 20, 30, and more years – it will become a dazzling, sizzling, multi-layered, multi-faceted jewel.
