Bruno Paillard has launched the sixth vintage of his Maison’s Prestige Cuvée, N.P.U.~ “Nec Plus Ultra”, in the UK. The Reims-based independently-owned Champagne House, which practises the longest maturation in Champagne, is thought to be the last Maison to release from the celebrated 2002 vintage; the 2002 N.P.U. spent 15 years in the cellars before release. Nec Plus Ultra, Latin for “there is nothing beyond”, is a unique and ambitious concept dedicated to create an ultimate expression, producing – without any constraints – the greatest possible Champagne.
Bruno Paillard founded the eponymous Maison in 1981, and created his first N.P.U. ~ Nec Plus Ultra from the 1990 vintage, which Paillard refers to as “magnificent”. Each of the subsequent vintages declared has had a very different temperament: 1995 – “generous”; 1996 – “eccentric”; 1999 – “classic”; 2003 – “audacious”; and now the 2002, which Paillard describes as “complete”. 2002 was a relatively dry and warm year, and the grapes were able to ripen consistently. Harvest saw sunny days and particularly cool nights which gave ideal thermal amplitude, essential for both the maturity and health of the grapes. The low yielding harvest produced concentrated and aromatic grapes which allowed a glimpse of a great year; intense and with a crystalline minerality.
The grapes, which were split equally between Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, were sourced exclusively from six of Champagne’s 17 Grand Cru vineyards: Oger; Le Mesnil-sur-Oger; Chouilly; Verzenay; Mailly; and Bouzy. Fermentation took place in small oak barriques, in which the wine spent its first 10 months. Following the second fermentation, the bottles rested in the cellar for 11 years, before disgorgement in September 2014. The wine was allowed to recover post disgorgement for a further three years before its release. As for all Bruno Paillard wines, the dosage is Extra Brut, here 3g/l, virtually imperceptible.
6,200 bottles and 300 magnums (all individually numbered) of N.P.U. 2002 were created. It is available now via Bibendum and will be listed in Hedonism from October 2017. RRSP: £240.
