Vintus

Jay McIerney’s inaugural column for the Wall Street Journal is, fittingly, a celebration of the ultimate celebratory wine, Champagne. Running the length and breadth of Rosé Champagnes, the column concludes with a selection of some of McIerney’s favorites, including Bruno Paillard.

It seems strange at first, but, according to Joseph Connolly of Ham & High, Bruno Paillard’s Brut Première Cuvée is the “perfect match” for cigars. Says Connolly:

“The rather superb cigar we had all come to savour (what else can I do but give it a puff?) was a limited edition Romeo Y Julieta made of extra-aged leaf – as fat as a broomstick, though not quite so long. It drew most beautifully and was a perfect match – you might find it odd – for a Bruno Paillard NV champagne, this being a rather baked and toasty bubbly.”

Of course, Connolly isn’t the first person to make that connection. Josh Greene at Wine & Spirits gave the following review (emphasis ours):

“The wine’s underlying richness is layered with higher tones of spiced apple, grapefruit, vanilla and clove. Tailored for a men’s club.“ 91 Wine & Spirits

This powerful, even masculine profile is no accident. Paillard’s rigorous use of reserve wines, as well as lengthy lees aging in bottle, results in both depth and structure, a really serious wine.

The cover of the Winter 2009/2010 Issue of the Quarterly Review of Wines features Bruno Paillard Rosé Première Cuvée, and there is a fantastic profile of Champagne Bruno Paillard.  To read the article, go here.

We are pruning now, and we will start with the “vins clairs” (base wine) tastings in February to finalize our assemblages (blends) in April/May and bottle for their 3 years minimum cellarage our “multi vintage” Brut Premiere Cuvee, Rose Premiere Cuvee, and Blanc de Blancs Reserve Privee Grand Cru.   We will also almost certainly declare a vintage with some of this 2009, maybe even a N.P.U.- Nec Plus Ultra…to sell in 2020.

In 2010, we will have an important release : the 1996 N.P.U.-Nec Plus Ultra.  As for the “multi vintage” cuvees, just keep in mind that our Blanc de Blancs Reserve Privee is now produced exclusively from Grand Cru grapes.   A third Mesnil, a third Oger, and the 30/100 remaining shared between Cramant, Avize and Chouilly.