Bruno Paillard N.P.U. Nec Plus Ultra, Champagne, 2008, 75cl

Bruno Paillard N.P.U. Nec Plus Ultra 2008 is an exclusive vintage champagne from Champagne, France, created as the house's ultimate prestige cuvée. The wine is made from 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay from selected Grand Cru vineyards, and according to the producer, the grapes come from some of Champagne's most sought-after villages, including Oger, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Chouilly, Cramant, Verzenay, Mailly-Champagne and Bouzy.

What makes Bruno Paillard N.P.U. 2008 special is its uncompromising vinification. The must is fermented in small old oak barrels, where the wines rest for their first 10 months before the champagne undergoes an unusually long maturation. The producer states 10 years on the lees and an additional 2 years of rest after disgorgement, while other dealer sources describe the aging as up to around 13 years before disgorgement and then even more rest. This collectively points to a champagne with extremely long cellar maturation and great complexity.

In the glass, the 2008 vintage presents a deep golden color and a very fine mousse. The taste profile is described with notes of pear, citrus, hazelnut, toasted bread, dried fruit, and warm biscuits, supported by a taut, chalky, and precise structure. Robert Parker describes the wine as concentrated, complex, and acid-driven with a long life ahead of it. The dosage is very low, around 3 g/l, which gives a dry and focused Extra Brut style.

Bruno Paillard N.P.U. 2008 is an obvious choice for those seeking a prestige champagne with both freshness, depth, and collector's potential. It pairs particularly well with caviar, oysters, lobster, seafood, fine fish dishes, and elegant servings, but also works excellently as a luxurious aperitif for special occasions. The producer states that the wine is available in 75 cl, which matches the desired bottle type here.