{"title":"Bouzy's Finest: Grand Cru Champagne","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFew villages in Champagne command the respect of Bouzy, where powerful Pinot Noir, deep chalk soils, and generations of exceptional growers produce some of the region's most compelling wines. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBouzy's Finest\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e brings together two extraordinary expressions of this Grand Cru terroir: Benoît Lahaye's 2019 “Violaine,” a biodynamic, zero-dosage Champagne of remarkable purity, and Pierre Paillard's 2012 “La Grande Récolte,” a profoundly textured vintage Extra Brut aged for more than a decade on its lees.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"2012-champagne-pierre-paillard-la-grande-recolte-bouzy-grand-cru-extra-brut","title":"2012 Champagne Pierre Paillard, “La Grande Récolte” Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Paillard family has grown grapes in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy for eight generations, and today brothers Antoine and Quentin Paillard run the estate. All 11 hectares sit within Bouzy itself, a village best known for powerful Pinot Noir, and the brothers favor massal-selection vines planted in thin topsoil over deep chalk. Their focus is on site expression, giving Bouzy’s natural richness a firm mineral frame.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“La Grande Récolte” is the estate’s vintage flagship, made only in the strongest years. The 2012, from a celebrated vintage across Champagne, blends 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, all from estate Grand Cru parcels, with base wines raised in stainless steel and neutral oak. It then spent more than ten years on its lees under natural cork before disgorgement as Extra Brut. The result is a broad, powerful Champagne held in check by chalky tension.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCritical Acclaim:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/wine_advoate_logo_240x240.png?v=1769834033\" alt=\"Robert Parker Wine Advocate Logo\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003e94 Points, Wine Advcoate: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003e\"Disgorged in January 2023 with a dosage of one gram per liter, the 2012 Bouzy Grand Cru La Grande Récolte hails from a time when Antoine Paillard had already begun working alongside his father during harvest and vinification, although some changes have since taken place, particularly in terms of yield management and refinement of barrel program. Derived from four old-vine parcels, it™s showing very well, displaying only the earliest signs of maturity, soaring from the glass with a bouquet of dried flowers, pear and brioche, mingling with orange zest. Medium to full-bodied, ample and concentrated, with bright acidity, firm chalky grip and a precise, mineral finish, it is elegant and refreshingly racy.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy You'll Love It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA single-village Grand Cru vintage Champagne, sourced entirely from the family’s own Bouzy vineyards.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAromas of mirabelle plum, dried cherry, and toasted brioche, lifted by a hint of candied ginger.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBouzy Pinot Noir brings weight and red-fruit depth, while Chardonnay and chalk keep the palate driving forward.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOver a decade of aging under cork builds a fine, creamy mousse and a long, saline finish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA true dinner Champagne with the structure to stand up to rich, savory dishes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow To Serve It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eServe a touch warmer than most Champagne, between 50 and 54°F, to show its full range.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo decanting is required. Let it evolve slowly in the glass over the course of the meal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll-purpose white wine stems will capture its broad bouquet better than flutes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePair with roast duck breast with cherry jus, seared foie gras, or a truffled roast chicken.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/clouet_bouzy.jpg?v=1791534041\" alt=\"Bouzy Champagne\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Skurnik Wines West","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47991992942646,"sku":"SOMM2610-PP12GRC-750","price":249.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/2012ChampagnePierrePaillard_LaGrandeRecolte_BouzyGrandCruExtraBrut_1.png?v=1791318083"},{"product_id":"2019-champagne-benoit-lahaye-grand-cru-violaine-extra-brut","title":"2019 Champagne Benoît Lahaye, Grand Cru \"Violaine\" Extra Brut","description":"\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"0\"\u003eBenoît Lahaye is a titan of biodynamic Champagne, and \"Violaine\" is his rawest, most mesmerizing masterpiece. Sourced 50\/50 from two contiguous, horse-plowed parcels bridging Bouzy and Tauxières-Mutry, this equal blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay gets the ultimate minimalist treatment: native fermentation, 10 months of lees aging in neutral oak casks, and bottling with zero added sulfur and zero dosage. It is an uncompromising snapshot of deep Montagne de Reims chalk, bursting from the glass with laser-focused energy, salted lemons, white peach, bruised orchard fruit, and an incredible vein of smoky, crushed-flint minerality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"1\"\u003eWhat makes \"Violaine\" a bucket-list bottle for sommeliers is its impossible balance of power and purity. The neutral barrel aging builds a silky, vinous texture on the palate, yet the complete absence of added SO2 leaves the wine tasting entirely \"alive\"—soaring, weightless, and intensely energetic. Expect vibrant notes of wild brioche, lime blossom, and fresh hazelnut leading into a bone-dry, mouthwatering finish that hums with chalky tension. Pair this natural Grand Cru powerhouse with roasted turbot, duck liver pate, or aged Comté, and open it 15 minutes before pouring to let its brilliant complexity unfurl.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eWhy You'll Love It\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-path-to-node=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"1,0,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"1,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eIconic Zero-SO2 Natural Winemaking:\u003c\/b\u003e Benoit Lahaye is a pioneer in biodynamic Champagne, and \"Violaine\" is made without any added sulfur or dosage, creating an unadulterated, living expression of pure fruit and chalky soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"1,1,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"1,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eEqual Grand Cru Balance:\u003c\/b\u003e A seamless 50\/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced from adjacent, horse-plowed parcels in Bouzy and Tauxières-Mutry that combines deep vinous structure with laser-sharp mineral tension.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"1,2,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"1,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eUltra-Limited Production:\u003c\/b\u003e Crafted in tiny quantities via native-yeast fermentation in neutral French oak barrels, making it a coveted bucket-list bottle for collectors and sommeliers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"4\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"4\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eHow To Serve It\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-path-to-node=\"5\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/b\u003e Serve cellar-cool at 48-52°F (10–12°C)—avoid serving it bone-cold so the complex aromas and vinous texture can fully open up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eGlassware:\u003c\/b\u003e Use a wide-swowl white wine glass or tulip Champagne glass instead of a narrow flute to let the zero-dosage profile breathe and express its subtle oak aging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5,2,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"5,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eFood Pairings:\u003c\/b\u003e Pair with rich, savory dishes like roasted halibut with chanterelles, duck liver pâté, pan-seared sea scallops, or aged mountain cheeses like Comté and Beaufort.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/Bouzy_Grand_cru_village.jpg?v=1777280480\" alt='Champagne Benoît Lahaye, Grand Cru \"Violaine\" Extra Brut' style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Avanelle Wine Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47996587540534,"sku":"SOMM2610-BLHY19CHMPVLN-750","price":189.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/2019ChampagneBenoitLahaye_GrandCruViolaineExtraBrut.png?v=1792173417"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/collections\/Grand_Cru_Bouzy_3ad2b49c-c847-44b2-8131-a1120484c95a.jpg?v=1793961460","url":"https:\/\/sommselect.com\/collections\/bouzys-finest-grand-cru-champagne.oembed","provider":"SommSelect","version":"1.0","type":"link"}