Champagne Brut Nature BdN ‘Eclat de Pinot’ Justin Maillard

The Champagne Brut Nature ‘Eclat de Pinot’ Blanc de Noir from producer Justin Maillard is a sparkling Pinot Noir with a citrusy and mineral taste. Justin began his winemaking project in 2016, after taking over the family vineyards from his mother located in the Côte des Bar, the southernmost area of the Champagne region.

The Blanc de Noir Justin Maillard ‘Eclat de Pinot’ Champagne Brut Nature is a 100% Pinot Noir from vines with an average age of 40 years, grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and other synthetic chemicals. Specifically, the vineyards are located within the municipalities of Celles sur Orce, Landreville, and Polisot, in the Côte des Bar, where the soils consist of brown limestone on Kimmeridgian marl. After the harvest, the grapes are transferred to the winery and undergo a gentle pressing, followed by spontaneous alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks and concrete containers, the same vessels where the sparkling base rests for several months on the fine lees. This is followed by bottle fermentation according to the Champagne Method, accompanied by a generous 48 months of aging sur lattes before dégorgement à la volée. The entire process excludes the use of clarification operations and cold treatments, while sulfur additions are minimal or absent.

The Champagne Blanc de Noir Brut Nature ‘Eclat de Pinot’ by Justin Maillard has a bright golden yellow color with fine and persistent bubbles. On the nose, there are aromas of citrus, wild red fruits, and flowers, complemented by peculiar notes of dill and hazelnut. Balanced and of excellent intensity is the taste, with a subtle effervescence and pronounced freshness, elements that lead to a finish of great consistency and mineral persistence.