Champagne Bruno Paillard N.P.U. aka Nec Plus Ultra Brut 2008
(Champagne, France) 750mL - [WE 96] [JS 95] [WS 95] [VM 95] [WA 94+]

About the winery:
This small, family-owned Champagne house was only founded in 1981. Despite its youth, it has gained an excellent reputation, a testament to the passion, knowledge, skill and drive of Bruno Paillard. Paillard's vineyards cover 32 hectares (79.5 acres) of land over the best Crus of Champagne: Le Mesnil sur Oger, Oger, Cumières and Verzenay, for example. Altogether it represents over 100 plots, each with a different terroir. From these few acres of land, 12 hectares of Paillard's vineyards are classified as "Grand Cru" which is remarkable knowing that grands crus represent only 17 of the 320 villages of Champagne. Using sustainable viticulture, he also grows 50-60% of the grapes used in his wines himself.

About this wine:
N.P.U. (Nec Plus Ultra) was born from the idea to create the greatest possible Champagne wine, whatever the constraints. For this, decisions were made at the highest level for each stage of its development. From this crazy dream was created a champagne at the height of winemaking, the flagship of the House: Nec Plus Ultra, the ultimate champagne.

The grapes, 50% each Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, selected to create this cuvée come exclusively from 7 of the most sought-after Grands Crus of the Champagne region: Oger, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Chouilly, Cramant, Verzenay, Mailly-Champagne, and Bouzy. Fermentation was conducted in small old oak barrels in which the wines spent their first 10 months.

This wine goes through an extended and exceptional ageing: 10 years in the cellar then 2 years of rest after disgorging. The dosage is very low, 3g/l.

Tasting Notes

Appearance:
Deep, bright yellow gold with fine, shimmering effervescence gently and gracefully rising in the glass.

Nose:
At first, notes of incredibly fresh red fruits (redcurrants, raspberries, blueberries, wild strawberries) mixed with stone fruits (Bigarreau cherries) and candied orange peel. Little by little, the aromas of fresh ginger and peppermint unfold, evolving towards slightly more smoky characters and notes of cocoa powder and quince paste revived by fresh honeysuckle.

Palate:
The attack is precise and fresh, powerful and serene all at once. The vivacity of the vintage shows a delightful balance allowing the depth of the wine to be further explored supported by its silky texture. The nose and widely complex, aromatic palate continue to develop into a long, lingering finish.

Ratings & Reviews

96 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"This Champagne is produced from grand cru vineyards in exceptional years only. Rich fruits and layers of spice mingle with the toastiness of maturity in this equal blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The wine is now ready to drink." - Roger Voss (12/31/2021)

95 Points - James Suckling:
"Figs, quince, toast, hazelnuts, walnuts and white chocolate on the nose. It’s medium-bodied, focused and full of energy, with persistent layers of dried fruit and nuts, accompanied by very fine bubbles. Long. Dry and mineral on the finish. Chardonnay and pinot noir. Drink now or hold. (Apr 2022)

95 Points - Wine Spectator:
"This mouthwatering version offers a creamy, lightly mouthcoating texture, providing a fine, cashmere-like wrap around the steely spine of acidity. Bright and deftly knit, offering a lovely range of ripe white cherry and apricot fruit, fleur de sel, brioche and crystallized honey flavors. Briny mineral and oyster shell notes linger on the finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged April 2019. Drink now through 2033. 398 cases made, 72 cases imported." - AN (Nov 2021)

95 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2008 Extra Brut NPU Nec Plus Ultra is a brilliant, taut Champagne. The combination of vintage and the extra brut style favored a Paillard that yields a young Champagne that is quite austere. It will interesting to see if the 2008 fills out with time in bottle. Today it is piercing in its intensity." - Antonio Galloni (Nov 2021)

94+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"Disgorged in April 2019 with three grams per liter dosage, Paillard's 2008 Extra-Brut N.P.U. Nec Plus Ultra unwinds in the glass with notes of pear and citrus mingled with hazelnut, toasted bread, dried fruits and warm biscuits. Medium to full-bodied, taut and chiseled, it's concentrated and complex, its tightly wound mid-palate complemented by a pearly mousse and underpinned by chalky grip. While it's introverted today, this is a classic in the making that will show brilliantly with more age on cork, even if it will always remain a comparatively lean, acid-driven marathon runner of a Champagne." - William Kelley (Jan 2022)