Bruno Paillard Extra Brut Millesime Assemblage 2012
(Champagne, France) 750mL - [JS 94] [WE 94] [DM 93] [WA 93] [VM 93] [WS 92]

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:
The 2012 Blend is made exclusively from the first press, the purest, from 8 great Pinot terroirs. Made from 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, 20% of which is vinified in small old oak barrels. Eight years of aging in the cellar, including a minimum of 12 months of rest after disgorgement, allow it to develop a feeling of gluttony and concentration served by a persistent saline freshness. Dosage is 4.5g/L.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Constant and fine effervescence, relatively intense yellow gold.

Nose: The freshness of stone fruits oscillating between cherry and white peach, quickly followed by more concentrated aromas of dried fig, honeyed notes and fresh ginger, enveloped in powerful white flowers whic open to reveal cocoa and ashy notes, underlining the greedy character of the wine.

Palate: Precise, energetic attack. The wine then opens up in the mouth with great fidelity to the nose. Sensation of gluttony and concentration served by a persistent saline freshness. 

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - James Suckling:
"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." (Apr 2023)

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"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.” – Roger Voss (10/1/2021)

93 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"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." - Yohan Castaing (Dec 2021)

93 Points - Wine Advocate:
"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." – William Kelley (Jan 2022)

93 Points - Vinous Media:
"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 flwoers, mint, bakes pastry and a kiss of oak build as this open-knit Champagne shows off its considerable charm. Disgorged March 2020." - Antonio Galloni (Nov 2021)

92 Points - Wine Spectator:
"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." – AN (Nov 2021)