Bruno Paillard - Elegance and Timeless Rosé Champagne
Maison Bruno Paillard is a relatively young champagne house when you look at the institutions that have been around for hundreds of years. Bruno Began comes from a long line of wine merchants and brokers dating back to 1704. He followed in his family’s footsteps but it wasn’t his dream. He longed to create something special, a different type of champagne that broke from tradition. He began by renting cellar space and purchased grapes from independent growers. Less than a decade later he purchased his first 3 grand cru hectares in Oger in the Côte des Blancs. Currently Maison Bruno Paillard owns vineyards cover 32 hectares of land over the best Crus of Champagne: Le Mesnil sur Oger, Oger, Cumières or Verzenay. The family still works with the founding independent grape growers that gave them their start, as well seeks out different parcels to allow the personal expression of the champagne to represent their vision of craftsmanship.
Bruno Paillard became the 1st champagne producer to print the disgorgement date on every single bottle for all of his cuvées. Another example of his individuality is his high expectations to sustainability - no herbicides or pesticides are used; ploughing; partial grassing, regular analysis of soils, organic fertilizers and promotion of biodiversity. All of these examples tell the consumer how much detail is put into Maison Bruno Paillard viticulture and winemaking.
This particular wine Premier Cuvée Rosé Extra Brut is mainly Pinot Noir with a touch of Chardonnay for texture and complexity. Hand harvested grapes that are gently pressed and is named after the first press (Premier Cuvée) of the grapes which produces wines of great finesse, long aging potential, pure delicate flavors and high acidity. The Pinot Noir juice has a short maceration on the skins to give it the beautiful rose gold color. It has been aged on the lees for 3 years and another minimum 5 months after disgorgement. Making Champagne requires great skill. It is an art form to obtain such a fine balance among many vintages and grape varieties. This particular wine is from a blend of 25 vintages going back to 1985! This bottle was disgorged April 2019 as seen on the back of the label. It is a gorgeous pale copper color, light yet complex; an Extra Brut wine which means it’s dry with less than 6g sugar/L. The aromas are delicate strawberry, red currant, violets, brioche, lemon zest, hazelnut. The flavors of red fruits (strawberry, cranberry, raspberry), citrus fruits (lemon peel, grapefruit), violets, vanilla, brioche, pastry, cream, earth, mushrooms and dried fig. The bubbles are delicately fine, the palate has a silky texture. It’s an elegantly balanced example of Bruno Paillard’s craftsmanship.
My video review is available on Instagram: Champagne Bruno Paillard Premiere Cuvée Rose
Pairs well deviled eggs with watercress, smoked salmon and chive cream, New England lobster roll on a brioche bun, shrimp mousse, duck confit, sushi, charcuterie, roasted chicken with cherry tomatoes and thyme, creamy pea risotto or a red fruit salad.
