Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
The most harmonious, vivid and polished vintage of this wine to date, this old-vine Pinot Noir from Bouzy comes alive with the perfect integration of subtle barrel fermentation into bold, concentrated fruit of roasted apricot, brown pastry and an energising, almost citric freshness; all the power of Bouzy is there, but without an inch of fat. This has hit a new level of alignment between breadth and focus; one of the emblematic wines of the village. 100% oak vinified. Zero dosage.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
As it becomes increasingly challenging to produce vibrant wines from south-facing slopes in hot vintages—conditions Champagne is experiencing with greater frequency—the 2019 Blanc de Noirs Bouzy Grand Cru Les Maillerettes is an impressive achievement. Disgorged in December 2023 with a dosage of three grams per liter, it is sourced from mid-slope vines planted in 1970 on a south-facing site that serves as a nursery for the estate’s massal selections. If Verzenay is among the last places the Paillard brothers harvest, Les Maillerettes is one of the first, and it bursts from the glass with an expressive bouquet of dried apricot, orange zest, elderflower and pear. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, textural and enveloping, with ripe yet vibrant acidity, concluding with a long, expansive finish. Rating: 93+
Representing the topmost expression of a Champagne house, a vintage Champagne is one made from the produce of a single, superior harvest year. Vintage Champagnes account for a mere 5% of total Champagne production and are produced about three times in a decade. Champagne is typically made as a blend of multiple years in order to preserve the house style; these will have non-vintage, or simply, NV on the label. The term, "vintage," as it applies to all wine, simply means a single harvest year.
Associated with luxury, celebration, and romance, the region, Champagne, is home to the world’s most prized sparkling wine. In order to bear the label, ‘Champagne’, a sparkling wine must originate from this northeastern region of France—called Champagne—and adhere to strict quality standards. Made up of the three towns Reims, Épernay, and Aÿ, it was here that the traditional method of sparkling wine production was both invented and perfected, birthing a winemaking technique as well as a flavor profile that is now emulated worldwide.
Well-drained, limestone and chalky soil defines much of the region, which lend a mineral component to its wines. Champagne’s cold, continental climate promotes ample acidity in its grapes but weather differences from year to year can create significant variation between vintages. While vintage Champagnes are produced in exceptional years, non-vintage cuvées are produced annually from a blend of several years in order to produce Champagnes that maintain a consistent house style.
With nearly negligible exceptions, . These can be blended together or bottled as individual varietal Champagnes, depending on the final style of wine desired. Chardonnay, the only white variety, contributes freshness, elegance, lively acidity and notes of citrus, orchard fruit and white flowers. Pinot Noir and its relative Pinot Meunier, provide the backbone to many blends, adding structure, body and supple red fruit flavors. Wines with a large proportion of Pinot Meunier will be ready to drink earlier, while Pinot Noir contributes to longevity. Whether it is white or rosé, most Champagne is made from a blend of red and white grapes—and uniquely, rosé is often produce by blending together red and white wine. A Champagne made exclusively from Chardonnay will be labeled as ‘blanc de blancs,’ while ones comprised of only red grapes are called ‘blanc de noirs.’