Bruno Paillard CHAMPAGNE

Bruno Paillard
CHAMPAGNE
“In an appellation and region where change is
measured in centuries, Bruno Paillard has surprisingly emerged in the last decade as one of
the bright young stars, promoting high quality
Champagne and refusing to compromise on
quality.” –Robert Parker Guide
In 1981, at the age of 27, Bruno Paillard sold his old MK2 Jaguar
to raise the initial capital for his company, the first new Champagne
house in nearly a century. Born in Reims in 1953, his ancestors had
been vine growers and Champagne brokers since 1704. After 6 years
of being a broker himself, he made the ambitious decision to create his
own Champagne house, with the goal to produce a Champagne that
was distinctly pure, elegant and complex in style.
The wines met with great success, and the press soon anointed
Paillard as one of the top Champagne producers in the region. He now
has 62 acres, almost half of which are Grand Cru in some of the best
viticultural areas in Champagne. The vineyards are farmed organically
and sustainably, and all harvesting is done by hand, according to the
particularities of the parcel. Light in texture yet rich in flavor, each cru
is vinified separately, minimal dosage levels are added, aging is extensive, and a large proportion is made from the estate’s prime vineyard
holdings. The house is notable for several important reasons: its exclusive use of first pressed juice, their very low dosage (all their wines
could be labeled Extra Brut), the long aging of all their Champagnes,
and the fact all bottles carry the disgorgement date on the back label,
a quality step pioneered in the region by Bruno Paillard.
VINTUS
Bruno Paillard | CHAMPAGNE
Brut Millésime Assemblage
Brut Millésime is a Vintage Champagne produced only in top years. The front label
features a different painting by a particular artist, who is specially commissioned
by Bruno Paillard to capture the essence of each vintage. Bruno Paillard strives to
elaborate a different blend for each release: the result can be a 100% Chardonnay,
like the Blanc de Blancs 1983, or the 100% Pinot Noir, like the Blanc de Noirs 1981.
The wine is matured in bottle far beyond the legally required minimum period. As in
all Bruno Paillard Champagnes, the “dosage” (addition of sugar) is kept very low
(no more than 6 g/L) so as to produce as natural a wine as possible.
Brut Première Cuvée Only the first pressing, the finest and the purest, is used for this Cham-
pagne, hence the name “Première Cuvée”. The wine is a blend of 22% Pinot
Meunier, 33% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir, with a portion of “Reserve”
wines that includes every vintage back to 1985 always blended with the
individually vinified wines from 32 villages. The style is all about elegance.
Brut Rosé Première Cuvée
Blanc de Blancs Réserve Privée
N.P.U.
Just as with the Brut Première Cuvée, this Rosé is produced from the first
pressing only. Pinot Noir makes up most of the blend (around 85%), supplemented by a touch of Chardonnay to add elegance. The Paillards own some of
the best Pinot vineyards in Champagne for making a portion of light red that,
in the traditional fashion, blends for color and flavor.
The Blanc de Blancs is made from Chardonnay grapes grown in 100% Grand
Cru vineyards on the famous “Côtes des Blancs”. Bruno Paillard uses a fermentation method established for Champagne “Crémant” generations ago,
with less sugar and yeast added than customary. The result is less effervescence, and a delicate, creamy palate.
N.P.U. was born from the desire to create the greatest Champagne possible.
The grapes selected are from four of the 100%-rated villages distinguished
by the coveted “Grand Cru” appellation: Bouzy, Verzenay, Oger and Le
Mesnil Sur Oger. The blend is 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay, fermented in 22 small oak barrels, and aged on its lees an incredible 12 years.
VINTUS