N.P.U. Nec Plus Ultra

Enjoy with lobster, foie gras and truffles, drizzled with hazelnut oil.

Of the 320 villages in Champagne, only 17 are entitled to the appellation "Grand Cru"; grapes selected to create N.P.U. “Nec Plus Ultra” 2003 are sourced from only four of them: Oger, Chouilly, Verzenay and Mailly. These are the noblest amongst the Grands Crus of the north of Champagne, better suited for the year’s heatwave.

The second fermentation took place almost immediately after bottling and a long maturation followed in the darkness of our cool cellars. These bottles remained in the cellar 10 years on lees, before “disgorgement” (which date is on the back label). After this “operation”, each bottle is then returned to the cellar for a necessary convalescence of at least a year before release onto the market. Disgorgement date: March 2015

As always at Maison BRUNO PAILLARD, only the first pressing – the purest – was retained. But an essential characteristic of the N.P.U – Nec Plus Ultra is that the first fermentation was conducted in small wooden barriques where the wines spent their first 10 months. During this period each “Cru” developed its own personality while acquiring these slightly woody aromas which used to be found in yesterday’s wines. Apparently a challenge, as this year was particularly sensitive to oxidation. Yet, despite this, the wine harmonised. The summer following the harvest, in July 2004, after 10 months of aging in barrels, the assemblage began, from only 14 selected barrels, half Chardonnay, half Pinot Noir, which gave 4,200 bottles, all individually numbered.

BRUNO PAILLARD Champagne is an independent family-run house. Its exceptional vineyards are located in the heart of the Champagne region. The wines have a highly personal style characterized by stringent quality control at every stage of the process. Our viticulture is slow and sustainable the BRUNO PAILLARD house uses only the first pressing of Chardonnay Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir and each cru is produced separately in oak barrels or stainless steel tanks. Not only this but reserve wines are blended to make an extra brut “dosage” and wines are aged two to four times longer than the minimum required by the appellation. The house was the first to indicate the date of disgorgement on its bottles so that our clients can choose when to taste BRUNO PAILLARD champagne. The Premiere Cuvée Rosé Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru N.P.U. “Nec Plus Ultra” and our collection of old vintages are available at independent wine merchants and are served at the world’s best restaurants.