Champagne Pierre Paillard – Taissy 1er Cru 2020

At Champagne Pierre Paillard, Benoit and his sons Antoine and Quentin are custodians of an eight generation family business; passionately crafting Champagne with extreme finesse. Paillard's Taissy Premier Cru derives from old-vine Pinot Meunier, planted in 1963, sourced from the west-facing lieu-dit Les Dessus de Monthouzons in Taissy. The vineyard is distinguished by shallow, 50-centimeter layers of clay and limestone topsoil.

Upon pouring, the wine unfolds to reveal a rich bouquet of red apple and dried apricot, mingling with delicate notes of sweet pastries and clear honey. Full-bodied and muscular, it is charming and pillowy, expansive and textural, with succulent yet vibrant acidity and a lingering, perfumed finish. Structurally, it presents a more generous profile, with less tension than the Ludes bottling—another Pinot Meunier-based cuvée, which is sourced from purchased fruit. 91 points - Kristaps Karlins, Wine Advocate.

 Brut – 2 grams per litre of dosage.