Bruno Paillard Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne NV 750ml

Bruno Paillard has been known since founding his house in 1981 for a genuinely distinctive, consistent philosophy: always Extra Brut, using only first-pressed juice, and committing to genuinely long aging post-disgorgement — a real point of difference within a Champagne region often driven by faster turnaround. As Paillard himself has put it: "Champagne stands on two feet: one, the northerly climate, and two, its chalky subsoil. These for me are the great assets of Champagne." Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is the house's own tribute to that chalk, made exclusively from Chardonnay's first pressing, sourced entirely from Grand Cru vineyards in the heart of the Côte des Blancs — Oger and Mesnil-sur-Oger — and has earned the nickname "the Lace of Champagne" for its remarkably fine, persistent white mousse.

The blend carries a genuinely deep well of reserve wine — 25 distinct vintages, dating all the way back to 1985 — layered atop the current base vintage, aging a full four years on the lees before at least ten to twelve months of further rest after disgorgement. Acclaimed French chef Joël Robuchon, upon discovering Bruno Paillard's Champagnes in 2000, described the house style directly: "this Champagne, low in sugar content, well balanced, and with its subtle note of hazelnut, is the result of a demanding personality, an excellent connoisseur of terroir and of the best crus."

Wine.com's own professional tasting scored the wine 94+, describing it as "pours a youthful yellow hue and opens to powdery and wispy floral aromas of lime candy, crushed chalk, white flowers, and fresh pear," calling it "elegant, with a pillowy mousse," "medium-bodied," "approachable and inviting, with a clean finish," recommending it "as a lovely aperitif." Decanter's 2024 tasting found it "bristling with grapefruit oil bitters, hazelnut and butter pastry, rather concentrated yet not hugely tense or driven," calling it "a stylish, aromatic blanc de blancs of immediate pleasure." Phil Jones' independent tasting described "a pale gold colour with very fine and persistent bead," the nose "all green fruit — granny smith apples to the fore, and undercurrent of citrus," developing "a mineral, wet stones like quality, followed by the brioche-biscuit aromas unmistakable for well made, aged Champagne," calling the mousse "perfect. Fine, light, not explosive in any way." This is genuinely serious, patiently crafted Grand Cru Champagne — real chalk-driven precision behind a wine widely respected among serious Champagne enthusiasts.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Bruno Paillard Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is produced by Champagne Bruno Paillard, an independent, family-owned house founded in 1981 in Reims, France. The wine is made exclusively from first-pressed Chardonnay, sourced entirely from Grand Cru vineyards in the heart of the Côte des Blancs — Oger and Mesnil-sur-Oger.

The blend incorporates 25 distinct vintages of reserve wine, dating back to 1985, added to the current base vintage. The wine ages a minimum of four years on the lees, followed by at least 10 to 12 months of further aging after disgorgement. Dosage runs approximately 4.5-5 g/L (Extra Brut).

Critics Reviews

Wine.com (professional tasting) — 94+:
"Coming from the base vintage of 2017 from Oger and Mesnil-sur-Oger, with 40% of each included in the blend, the NV Champagne Grand Cru Blanc De Blancs pours a youthful yellow hue and opens to powdery and wispy floral aromas of lime candy, crushed chalk, white flowers, and fresh pear. Elegant, with a pillowy mousse, this medium-bodied Champagne is approachable and inviting, with a clean finish. It's a very pretty wine and would be a lovely aperitif."

Sourced from the fruit of 36 family-owned plots in Oger and Mesnil-sur-Oger, the NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is very fine and intense on the clear, precise and perfectly ripe nose, with lovely brioche and aromatic fruit notes. Beautifully intense but refined and highly elegant on the palate, this is one of the finest Blanc de Blancs I have had from Bruno Paillard in the past five years. This is so gentle, pure and chalky, with a long and intense but clear, crisp and salty finish. This is absolutely fabulous in its terroir reflection and great delicacy with beautiful length. Disgorged as Extra-Brut in January 2017. Tasted October 2018." -Stephan Reinhardt, Oct 2018

Reviewed by: Decanter (2024):
"Bristling with grapefruit oil bitters, hazelnut and butter pastry, rather concentrated yet not hugely tense or driven. It's a stylish, aromatic blanc de blancs of immediate pleasure."

Phil Jones, Wine Notes (extended independent review):
"A pale gold colour with very fine and persistent bead, it's hallmark high quality Blanc des Blancs Champagne. The nose is all green fruit — granny smith apples to the fore, and undercurrent of citrus, and then a mineral, wet stones like quality, followed by the brioche-biscuit aromas unmistakable for well made, aged Champagne. The first thing you notice on the palate is the mousse — it's perfect. Fine, light, not explosive in any way."

Joël Robuchon, Chef:
"This Champagne, low in sugar content, well balanced, and with its subtle note of hazelnut, is the result of a demanding personality, an excellent connoisseur of terroir and of the best crus."

Bruno Paillard (official tasting note):
"After a lively attack, this wine reveals complex notes ranging from citrus to white flesh fruits, marked by the distinctive minerality of the chalk. Fresh and lingering finish."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Youthful yellow hue with a green tint. Lime candy, crushed chalk, and white flowers lead, joined by fresh pear, granny smith apple, and citrus, developing hazelnut and brioche with age.

Palate
Elegant and medium-bodied, with a pillowy mousse, delivering citrus and white flesh fruit, marked by genuine chalk-driven minerality and wet stone character.

Finish
Fresh and lingering, closing clean with real length — approachable enough for an aperitif, structured enough for serious tasting.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Fresh oysters and shellfish (especially crayfish)
• Fish
• Light, non-spicy full meals
• Truffle-based appetizers

Serving Note

Store carefully within its UV-protective cellulose wrapping until serving; never leave in the refrigerator for more than a few hours, as extended cold can "break" the wine.