A few weekends ago there was a big piece on disgorgement in the Financial Times’ “How to Spend It”. Bruno Paillard is described as “disgorgement kingpin” and, as you might imagine, has a few words to say – he’s extraordinarily passionate about the subject and feels consumers should know where their Champagnes are in their evolution. He also clearly believes that his high quality wines manage extended ageing beautifully.
Recently in Champagne, Bruno showed us a Brut that was disgorged 12 years previously, one that was disgorged 6 years previously, and our current disgorgement. A completely eye-opening tasting, his Brut is simply outstanding, capable of standing next to the more “serious” cuvees of many other producers.
The whole piece can be found here:
http://www.howtospendit.com/#!/articles/6027-feature-popping-the-question
While we were in Champagne we did some vineyard videos, and below you see a little video of Alice Paillard showing us a vineyard they just planted in Le Mesnil sur Oger. The farming the Paillards does is rigorous, based on working soils to encourage biodiversity, and protecting the vines from any herbicides (or pesticides). The Paillard’s vines very clearly stand out from neighboring vines because of more rigorous training and the fact they let grasses grow between all their rows at this time of year.