Producer Profile
Champagne Bruno Paillard
France
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Champagne Bruno Paillard
Champagne, France
Master blenders of the finest crus of Champagne
Champagne Bruno Paillard has long been synonymous with elegance and finesse throughout their range. Since first launching in 1981, the Maison has been a firm favourite on the export market, with UK critics in particular praising the “silkiness” of vintage and non-vintage wines alike. Now into their 5th decade of production, focus remains on expressing the true freshness and balance of great Champagnes, whilst pioneering sustainability initiatives in this most famous of wine regions.
Location: Reims, Champagne, France
Working with us since: 2023
Winemaking: Sustainable practices
Website: http://www.champagnebrunopaillard.com/en/
Interesting fact: In 1981, a 27-year-old Bruno Paillard knew he wanted to produce his own range of Champagne. In order to fund the start of his new company, the cash strapped Bruno had to sell his old Jaguar, a collector’s item of a car, in order to fulfil his dream and start Champagne Bruno Paillard.
Champagne Bruno Paillard wines
Bruno Paillard is famed amongst the Maisons of Champagne as producing some of the freshest and purest expressions this famed region produces. Their success is built upon a mastering of the art of blending, bringing a complexity from a diversity of crus, grapes and vintages to produce an enviable consistency of style. The exclusive use of first pressing juice only, means fresh fruit notes pervade throughout the range, even in the unique Nec Plus Ultra that is aged for over 15 years before release!
Bruno Paillard was born in 1953 into a family steeped in the traditions of Champagne. Joining the industry as a broker, he soon felt an overwhelming desire to produce wines in his own style which led to the establishment of Maison Bruno Paillard in 1981. Initially using a rented cellar, he began by carefully selecting grapes from his contacts of independent growers. By the end of the 80s, the wines of Bruno Paillard had gained international acclaim, with Hugh Johnson enthusing about this “small but prestigious young champagne house with excellent silky vintages and non-vintages!”
Maison Bruno Paillard owns plots in some of the finest vineyards of Champagne.
Having begun acquiring plots in 1994, the Maison now owns vineyards with an area of 25ha which composed of 89 individual plots, including 19 Crus (6 Grand Crus and 5 Premiers Crus) with multiple orientations. The wines are now made from half of their own vines, with the rest coming from the same independent growers that supported Bruno in his formative years. All vineyards, either owned or in partnership, use similar sustainable technique, with no use of herbicides or pesticides, only certified organic fertilisers, and pruning techniques employed to extend the root systems and draw the most out of the chalky minerality of the soils. As Bruno himself says; “We must serve the Champagne appellation, not use it”, an ethos he employs in his role as the head of the Champagne 2030 Project.
In 2007 Bruno was joined in the family business by his daughter Alice who, after years gaining experience in the cellar and vineyard, now co-manages the Maison with her father. Their wines still follow the same quality template, with a large proportion of reserve wines used to add consistency of style and complexity even to their entry level wines. The extended ageing both before and after disgorgement, and the minimal use of dosage, all contribute to the energy, tension, complexity and length of finish across the range.
Maison Bruno Paillard sell their wines exclusively through restaurants and fine wine stores across the globe. The aim is to ensure a guarantee of quality when the wine arrives in the glasses of the wine lovers that buy them. Wanderlust are incredibly proud to partner Bruno Paillard in the UK and offer our clients these fabulous set of wines.