Nicolas Maillart, Champagne 1er Cru, Vintage 2012
Appellation: Champagne 1er Cru
Region: Champagne
Country: France
Color: White
Varietal(s): 55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay
About The Producer
Nicolas Maillart (9th generation) continues the almost 300-year-old tradition of this Grower Champagne house. The family has 16-heactares in the Montagne de Reims with holdings in 1er Cru and Grand Cru villages that include Bouzy, Eceuil and Villers-Allerand. The estate cultivates a special plot of Massal Selection Pinot Noir planted in 1973. Nicolas practices sustainable agriculture increasing the estate’s biodiversity using pest management strategies, and water management systems.Terroir & Vineyard Practices:
The estate contains a high proportion of Pinot Noir vines (75%) together with Chardonnay, the Pinot Noir providing power and substance to complement the finesse of the Chardonnay. For the Vintage champagne the majority of the Pinot Noir is selected mainly from Grand Cru Bouzy sites and the Chardonnay comes from 1er Cru Ecueil sites. Vine age 30 years and are planed in clay-limestone soils.Tasting Notes
Golden yellow in color with a fine, lingering bead. On the nose, intense aroma with evolving notes (brioche bread) and hints of ripe fruit (quince, etc.). A lovely fresh, vinous attack on the palette. This is an intense Champagne that will do great justice to a meal.Vinification
A single-vintage Champagne made exclusively with first-press juice. Slow, gentle pressing using gravity-flow techniques. Vinification in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and a period in the barrel for a part of the blend. Average five-year maturing period in the bottle. Disgorged by hand and laid down for at least three months before sale. Dosage: 4 g/litrePress
- 90+ points - Wine Advocate: "The 2012 Premier Cru Extra Brut is sourced in Bouzy and Écueil and was picked between September 20th and October 3rd. The wine blends 55% Pinot Noir with 45% Chardonnay and was fermented 60% in Burgundian pièces. The straw-yellow colored wine offers a clear, precise and refreshing citrus aroma with mineral notes and good intensity. Full-bodied and charmingly round on the palate, this is an intense, lush and fruity vintage with a refreshing mineral finish. Disgorged in March 2017 with a dosage of four grams per liter. Drink 2022-2033."- Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate