Champagne Bruno Paillard: Make Any Occasion Grand

Champagne is the most luxurious and celebratory of libations and the standard against which all other sparkling wines are judged. This is the perfect time of year to luxuriate with a glass of Champagne and today we are sipping one of my favorites, Champagne Bruno Paillard, which we received as a tasting sample.

Bruno Paillard Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru MV, Champagne — medium yellow in the glass with generous, persistent and fine bubbles. Aromas and flavors of light toast, grated citrus rind and marzipan finish with clean acidity and intense minerality. Pinpoint bubbles are mouth-filling and contribute to the clean and very long finish. 12% abv. SRP $70

This Champagne is a celebration of Chardonnay and the grands crus vineyards of Côte des Blanc from which the Chardonnay is sourced. It is a blend of the current vintage wine with older, reserve wines, which may be up to 25 years old. Champagne Bruno Paillard uses the term multi-vintage (MV) to describe this blending process and MV blends include an average of 33% reserve wines.

Beginning in 1985, four years after establishing Maison Bruno Paillard, Paillard became the first Champagne House to print the disgorgement date on every bottle of Champagne he produced. Every bottle is held in the cellar for a post-disgorgement rest prior to release making every bottle perfect for immediate consumption.

That said, Champagne made with care and attention can age beautifully in the bottle. Disclosing the disgorgement date on every bottle is Bruno Paillard’s way of noting where each bottle of his Champagne is in its evolution.

Beyond printing the disgorgement date on every bottle of his Champagne, Bruno Paillard also ages his Champagne for much longer than the minimum required by appellation law and he crafts only extra brut Champagne, with a dosage of less than six grams per liter of sugar for every wine.

The Bruno Paillard Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru MV Champagne is bright and focused with distinct and intense minerality. It is easy sipping with pinpoint bubbles that are mouth filling. Pair this Champagne with a meal of oysters, sole almandine or, my favorite, Dungeness crab. It will elevate whatever meal you choose. Continue your enjoyment after you eat and the Champagne will become the occasion. It is a lovely wine.

Look for the following Champagnes from Bruno Paillard in the U.S.:

Champagne Première Cuvée MV (375ml, 750ml and 1.5L)

Champagne Rose Première Cuvée MV (375ml, 750ml and 1.5L)

Champagne Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru (750ml)

Champagne Assemblage 2008 (750ml and 1.5L)

Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2006 (750ml)

Champagne Brut N.P.U. “Nec Plus Ultra” 2002 and 2003 (750ml and 1.5L)

Cheers!