2003 Bruno Paillard Champagne Brut N.P.U. Nec Plus Ultra

2003 Bruno Paillard Champagne Brut N.P.U. Nec Plus Ultra

2003 Bruno Paillard Champagne Brut N.P.U. Nec Plus Ultra

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (96/100)
The newly released 2003 NPU Nec Plus Ultra is only the fifth edition since 1990. The ambitious prestige cuvee from Bruno Paillard is only produced in great vintages (so far 1990, 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2003), and only from grand cru villages grapes; the ratio is always 50/50 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The first fermentation of the must (only the tete de cuvee is used, but that’s how it is in all the other BP cuvees) takes place in small oak barrels, where the wine spends ten months. No less than ten years have to pass by until the wine is disgorged as Extra Brut (there is three grams of dosage) and kept in the cellar for another year. This 2003 was disgorged in March 2015. Total production is 4,200 bottles. The wine has an intense yellow-golden color. It is very intense, rich and complex on the beautifully matured nose, where a bouquet of yellow and dried fruit aromas, along with Turkish honey, pistachio, almonds and torrone is displayed. Pure, fresh and mineral on the palate, this 2003 has lots of energy and finesse, is full of tension and develops a very persistent length. A fascinating, atypical 2003 vintage Champagne from that extremely dry and hot year.

Wine Enthusiast (95/100)
One of the relative handful of vintage Champagnes from the hot 2003 growing season, this wine is rich while also well structured. After 13 years, it is showing touches of toast and its color has deepened to light gold. Generous while also in the dry style of the producer, this great wine is ready to drink now.

Bruno Paillard was born in Reims in 1953 into an established family of Champagne “vignerons” and brokers. He started his own brokerage in 1975 and founded his own Champagne house in 1981. In fact, it is the youngest prestige house to be created since World War II. Bruno Paillard is synonymous with quality. One hundred and twenty five acres of Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards provide the exceptional Pinot Noir, Pinot Munier and Pinot Chardonnay grapes which are used in the production of three luxury cuvees and one vintage Champagne. Each wine is produced in the traditional method and under the personal supervision of Bruno Paillard at his striking, state-of-the-art glass and stainless steel facility just outside Reims. Using only the first pressing of the grapes, Mr. Paillard is able to achieve the purest fruit flavors which then develop extraordinary balance during extended aging in the cellars. The Champagnes are all made with the dosage kept as low as possible in order to respect the authenticity of the wines. As a final note of quality, every bottle carries its date of “degorgement”. Bruno Paillard is the only Champagne house to do so. The Champagnes of Bruno Paillard are rich, complex and dry but above all, elegant.