Bruno Paillard : Assemblage 2012

The 2012 Extra-Brut Assemblage Millésimé is excellent, offering up aromas of sweet orchard fruit, honeycomb, buttered toast, lemon pith and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and enveloping, it's elegantly muscular and concentrated, with racy acids and a long, saline finish. It was disgorged in March 2020.

A creamy Champagne, marrying sleek acidity and a subtle streak of chalky mineral with a detailed range of white cherry, toasted almond, candied lemon peel and spun honey notes. Lightly spiced finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged March 2020. Drink now through 2035. 2,163 cases made, 155 cases imported.

A blend of Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%), 20% fermented in used French oak barrels. An energetic and intense bouquet, with pastry, marzipan, dried flowers, nut, and toast characters. Ample and creamy, this Extra-Brut captures the power of the vintage, with a long and ample finish. A lot of charm here. Disgorged: March 2020. Dosage: 4.5g/L.

The 2012 Extra Brut Assemblage captures all of the exuberance of the vintage. Ample and creamy, the Assemblage is alluring right out of the gate. Kirsch, dried flowers, mint, baked pastry and a kiss of oak build as this open-knit Champagne shows off its considerable charm. Disgorged: March, 2020.

Pale golden yellow, silver reflections, delicate, rather discreet mousse. Ripe yellow pear fruit, subtle dried fruit nuances, white apple, some mango and acacia honey. Juicy, taut and elegant, white tropical fruit, finesse-rich acidity structure, mineral and chalky on the finish, subtle pomelo note on the finish, very good length, further certain ageing potential, a multi-faceted food companion.

A beautiful color with an open aromatic profile. A nicely ripe nose with mineral depth. The palate shows lovely power and good structure; it’s a vinous, rich wine.

Attractive nose of spiced apples, praline, toasted hazelnuts, dried mango and pastries. Medium-bodied with sharp acidity and very soft bubbles. Deliciously toasty with excellent length. 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay. Drink now or hold.

A bright, dry Champagne, this is well balanced, freshly textured and packed with tight, mineral acidity. This relatively young bottling will be best from 2022.