Champagne Extra Brut
Blanc de Blancs Millésime 2015

The Champagne Blanc de Blancs Millésime by Bruno Paillard is the rare expression of a single year of Chardonnay, made only when the harvest shows a singular character worth celebrating. It conveys the purity and elegance of the main grape of the Côte des Blancs and embodies the Maison’s constant pursuit of refinement and timeless finesse. The label underlines this too, as each edition is illustrated by a contemporary artist in a precious dialogue between wine and visual art.

This edition, Vintage 2015, bears the work “Presenza” by Californian artist Jeff Kowatch on its label. It was made with oil stick on Dibond, with bold shapes and vivid colours built up in dense layers to evoke the wine’s sunny, lasting energy. The year was marked by strong climatic contrasts, with about ten weeks of almost total drought from late May to early August. Rain at the end of August and a cool, breezy start to September then brought the grapes to a harvest of excellent quality. The wine is made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes of the first pressing, the purest, from Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards of the Côte des Blancs. Part of the vinification and fermentation takes place in small oak barrels, which hold 25% of the wine and add complexity without taking away from its purity. After tirage, the wine ages on the lees for 7 years before dégorgement. A final dosage of 3 g/l, in Extra Brut style, heightens its mineral tension. The wine then rests for another 24 months in the cellar before release, for a total ageing of about nine years.

On tasting, Blanc de Blancs Millésime 2015 shows a powerful, deep profile of great character, with fine, even and persistent bubbles. The nose opens on delicate white flowers that develop into warmer notes of acacia and honey, joined by yellow fruit such as peach and plum and elegant hints of brioche. On the palate, the richness of fruit from a sunny year blends with citrus freshness and a mineral backbone with iodine tones, enriched by touches of red citrus and pastry. Its harmonious balance leads to a long and persistent finish.