N.V. Pierre Paillard Les Parcelles Extra Brut Grand Cru, Bouzy, Champagne, France (750ml)   

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N.V. Pierre Paillard Les Parcelles Extra Brut Grand Cru, Bouzy, Champagne, France Members of the Paillard family have been living in the village of Bouzy for over four centuries. They were a humble lot of mostly shepherds, innkeepers and teachers until 1768 when Pierre Paillard purchased his first vineyard, effectively introducing viticulture as a new family vocation.

Eight generations later, it is Benoit Paillard and his sons, Antoine and Quentin who run Pierre Paillard while their cousin, Bruno Paillard owns his a separate domaine. The Pierre Paillard estate covers 11 hectares of vines which are farmed according to organic practices (though they are not certified) and planted 65% to Pinot Noir and 35% to Chardonnay. It is a little unusual for one producer to have so much Chardonnay given that Bouzy is predominantly planted to Pinot Noir. However, it is the 30% of Chardonnay, with 70% Pinot Noir, which adds extra lift and acidity to this quietly complex Champagne. The Paillards call it, ‘Les Parcelles’ (The Parcels) because it is a cuvée from 22 individual plots with an average vine age of 25 years.