Assemblage "Sillon"

While its texture invites a meaty fish such as red mullet or monkfish, its flavours could just as easily accompany a confit of lamb, pigeon or quail as well as spicy cuisines.

BRUNO PAILLARD Champagne is an independent family-run house. Its exceptional vineyards are located in the heart of the Champagne region. The wines have a highly personal style characterized by stringent quality control at every stage of the process. Our viticulture is slow and sustainable the BRUNO PAILLARD house uses only the first pressing of Chardonnay Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir and each cru is produced separately in oak barrels or stainless steel tanks. Not only this but reserve wines are blended to make an extra brut “dosage” and wines are aged two to four times longer than the minimum required by the appellation. The house was the first to indicate the date of disgorgement on its bottles so that our clients can choose when to taste BRUNO PAILLARD champagne. The Premiere Cuvée Rosé Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru N.P.U. “Nec Plus Ultra” and our collection of old vintages are available at independent wine merchants and are served at the world’s best restaurants.

A year characterised by intensity: from the intensity of its weather to the intensity of its aromas. 2012 began with a mild winter which, in February, suddenly deteriorated. A cold spell set in for close to 10 days, with temperatures sometimes dropping down to as low as -20°C. The mild spring weather brought back in rain and cold temperatures which led to significant frosts in the vineyards. Alternating thunder and hailstorms were experienced until summer and the very fragile flowering season was also cold. August brought back sunshine and high temperatures ensuring the grapes ripened evenly. But, the drought intensified creating hydric stress in certain sectors, despite the cumulative rainfall of previous months... The harvest took place without incident even if the rain, this time much welcomed, reappeared at the end. If the vintage unsurprisingly offered a relatively low yield, the quality of the grapes at harvest, particularly the pinot noirs and chardonnays, was exceptional.

After eight years in our cellar including a minimum of 12 months post disgorgement rest, this cuvée has developed a delicious richness and concentration supported by a persistent saline freshness.

Our Assemblage 2012 was produced exclusively from the first pressing, the purest, of grapes selected from eight preferred “crus” of Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%) of which 20% was fermented in used oak barrels.