2004 Champagne N.P.U. Nec Plus Ultra | MG

The 2004 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs is Bruno Paillard's Pinot Noir/Chardonnay blend vinified in oak. Rich and powerful in the glass, the 2014 is still tightly wound, despite having been disgorged more than two years ago. Vinification in oak gives the 2004 quite a bit of power and resonance to play off the freshness of the vintage. It will be interesting to see if the 2004 comes together a bit more fully with time in bottle. Today, the wine is heavily marked by wood, with strong torrefaction, coffee, hazelnut and spice accents, and less of the freshness that is the single greatest marker of 2004 in Champagne. Disgorged: September, 2017.

Rich, with a well-spiced range of pineapple pâte de fruit, toasted brioche, lemon thyme, crystallized honey and grated ginger notes, this vibrant version is firmed by racy, seamlessly integrated acidity, swathed in a satiny mousse. Long and mouthwatering, this is hard to stop sipping. Disgorged September 2017. Drink now through 2029. 385 cases made, 330 cases imported.