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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Champagne Pierre Paillard Les Parcelles Bouzy Grand Cru XVIIItext
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17/20

Champagne Pierre Paillard Les Parcelles Bouzy Grand Cru XVIII NV

Montagne de Reims, Champagne, FranceBrothers Antoine and Quentin Paillard are 8th generation vine growers and winemakers, carrying on the family tradition along with father Benoit. The Paillard family has been growing vines and making wine in Bouzy since 1768, owning only Grand Cru vineyards with old vines via massale selection (no clones). They are truly a star of the grower champagne movement. Les Parcelles is sourced entirely from their home village of Bouzy and 22 plots of the family's sustainably-farmed vines, now averaging 30+ years. As noted by the XVIII on the label, this is based on the 2018 vintage (70%) and is a mix of 70/30 pinot noir/chardonnay (the latter an anomaly in PN-centric Bouzy), disgorged in June 2022 after 4 years on lees, and with less than 1 g/L dosage. Red and green apple, lemon, and white cherry rest atop a stony base, with a cushioning layer of lees and a dusting of spice. As always, there's lovely balance here, with the chardonnay backbone drawing up pinot power from front through back. A beauty food wine.Tasted: 12 January 2023Tasted by: Prices:
BC$100.00750mlprivate wine stores
ON$73.00750mlconsignment
Producer: Champagne Pierre PaillardDistributors: The Wine Syndicate
Halpern
Les Vins Dame-Jeanne
Blend: Chardonnay - Pinot Noir