Pierre Paillard 'La Grande Recolte' Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut 2012

93/100, Gismondi on Wine: La Grande Récolte represents the quintessence of the Paillard's vineyards, sourced from two sites within their top vineyard in their Bouzy homeland. This blends 55% old vine Pinot Noir from a plot called Les Maillerettes, planted in 1970, and 45% Chardonnay from Les Mottelettes, planted in 1961. Both are the mother vines for the massale selections made in house, and both vineyards are a mere 0.8 acres. This was vinified in stainless, and was kept on lees for eight months until bottling the following spring. This rested for 10 years in the deep chalk Paillard cellars, and was disgorged with 1.8 g/L in March 2022. From the excellent 2012 vintage, this is a highly layered and gastronomic champagne, with strata of chalk, lemon, white cherry streaming along the supple palate with a bright lemon acidity, finishing long with ample flake salts. (Treve Ring).""La Grande Récolte 2012 offers the concentrated intensity of this great vintage yet remains graceful." La Revue