Bruno Paillard : Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru

Disgorged in November 2022 with three grams per liter dosage, Bruno Paillard’s NV Extra-Brut Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru is showing brilliantly, revealing a delicate, perfumed bouquet with aromas of red berries, spring flowers, pepper and grapefruit, followed by a moderately weighted, incisive palate that’s vinous and taut with an intense core of fruit. Saline and chalky, the finish is ethereal and lingering. Based on the 2018 vintage, with 12.5% reserve wines, it’s crafted from Pinot Noir grapes sourced from four villages (Verzenay, Mailly, Verzy and Bouzy) and was vinified in 20% oak barrels.

From four grand cru villages around the Montagne de Reims, this Champagne has a toasty aroma and a rich, structured style. While dry, it is also rich and full, the wine's fruit now softened with some bottle age. Drink now.

Despite the ripeness of the 2018 vintage, this is a neat blanc de noirs showing delicacy as well as insistency. Nectarine, orange peel and red pear present juicy, bright aromatics, with a little menthol and apple blossom detail. There is a contained roundness and crisp, citrussy energy on the palate, signalling this wine's tendency to side with subtlety over power. Two thirds Pinot Noir from the northern Montagne de Reims villages of Verzenay, Verzy and Mailly, with one third from Bouzy. Based on the 2018 vintage, with 12.5% reserve wines and approximately one fifth fermented in small oak barrels.

This is a fresh and focused blanc de noirs with aromas of croissants, walnuts, peaches and white strawberries. Sleek and elegant on the palate, lightly nutty, with fine bubbles and a dry finish. Drink now.

Excellent amount of information on the back label; Bruno Paillard was a pioneer of this. 100% Pinot Noir from the grands crus of Verzenay, Verzy, Mailly and Bouzy. Mostly 2018 with 12.5% of reserve wines. 24% of the wine was aged in used oak (if I am reading the very small print on the back label correctly). Disgorged November 2022 with a dosage of 3 g/l. Nose smoulders and the whole is explosively refreshing. It has the density of grand cru fruit and is very well balanced. A world away from a supermarket Blanc de Noirs from the Aube, it has real intensity. Very ripe fruit presumably accounts for the fact that, if served this blind, I would guess a higher dosage than 3 g/l. A robust classic wine that could well go with many an intricate dish. (JR)

Beautiful maturity, an open nose with lovely, inviting fruit: sour cherry, cherry.