Pierre Paillard "Les Parcelles XX" Extra Brut Grand Cru Champagne NV

Vin Chicago: 94 Points

(1/2025) Brothers Quentin and Antoine Paillard are the eighth generation of their family to farm in Champagne. A blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay from their Grand Cru vineyards in Bouzy, the wine was fermented in barrel prior to being allowed 30 months rest on the lees. Creamy in texture and quite nuanced and unique in style, the result is a wine of impact. While designated as a non-vintage, the majority of the fruit for this new "Les Parcelles" bottling comes from the 2020 vintage, as indicated by the "XX" designation on the label. Pouring the hue of a delicious Vidalia onion, it is intriguing and gleaming in the glass. Notes of dried raspberry, golden raisin, lime zest, quince and minerals are enhanced by a fine stream of bubbles. Flavors of baked pastry, ginger snap, and Marcona almond are quite distinct on the palate, offering a quite infectious complexity that quickly brought us back for another sip of this bright, lifted wine. This is the complete package!