NV Bruno Paillard Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru, Champagne, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

The Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru was born from the desire to show, through the blending of diverse vintages, a rich and precise expression of Pinot Noir from the northern crus of Champagne.

This wine is entirely composed of first pressing Pinot Noir from 4 Grands Crus: Verzenay, Mailly, Verzy and Bouzy. The first three of them have a predominantly northern orientation; these historic, chalky terroirs bring together the elegance and distinctive depth of Pinot Noir. It is mostly vinified in stainless steel, with a small proportion of oak from aged barrels (15 to 20%, depending on the year) to enrich the blend.

It then spends three years on the lees. After disgorgement, the wine rests for a minimum of six months in the cellar. Like all the Maison Bruno Paillard Champagnes, it is an Extra-Brut, with a dosage of 3g/l.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Bruno Paillard is a small, independent, family-owned Champagne house founded in Reims in 1981 by Bruno Paillard. Born into a family of Champagne growers and brokers, Paillard began his career as a wine broker before establishing his own maison at just 27 years old. Though young by Champagne standards, the house quickly developed a distinctive reputation for elegance, precision, and freshness.

Today, Bruno Paillard owns approximately 25 hectares spread across nearly 100 parcels, including important Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards. The estate vineyards provide more than half of the house’s grape requirements, with the remainder carefully sourced from longtime growers. Only the first pressing is used, and individual crus are vinified separately in stainless steel or small oak barrels before blending.

Reserve wines play an important role in the house style, with multi-vintage cuvées incorporating significant portions from a perpetual reserve established in 1985. Bruno Paillard also favors extended lees aging and very low dosage, with all of its Champagnes classified as Extra Brut. The house was also a pioneer in Champagne transparency, becoming the first maison to indicate the disgorgement date on every bottle.

The Bruno Paillard style is defined by purity, fine bubbles, bright acidity, and a distinctive chalky, saline minerality. Citrus, white orchard fruit, subtle toast, and almond often emerge alongside greater complexity with age. The range includes Première Cuvée, Rosé Première Cuvée, Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, Dosage: Zéro, Cuvée 72, vintage Champagnes, and the prestigious N.P.U. (“Nec Plus Ultra”), the house’s most ambitious expression.