2021 Pierre Paillard Bouzy Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Motelettes – 99 Points James Suckling

99 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING! No. 10 WINE IN FRANCE FOR 2026! CHEVALIER-MONTRACHET WITH BUBBLES!

99 Points – JamesSuckling.com | No. 10 – James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of France 2026

2021 Pierre Paillard Les Mottelettes Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs – Champagne, France

RRP $410 per bottle

Every now and then, a Champagne comes along that makes you question just how extraordinary sparkling wine can become.

The 2021 Pierre Paillard Les Mottelettes is one of those wines.

99 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

And that is only the beginning.

James Suckling has ranked this extraordinary Champagne as his No. 10 wine in France for 2026.

Not simply one of his top Champagnes.

One of the ten greatest French wines in his entire annual selection.

And his description of the wine is absolutely remarkable.

"Chevalier Montrachet with bubbles."

Think about that for a moment.

One of the world's most revered Grand Cru white Burgundies, used as the comparison for a Champagne made from old-vine Chardonnay in the legendary village of Bouzy.

This is a wine that challenges everything you might expect from Champagne.

And at $410 per bottle, it is one of the most exciting collector Champagnes we have encountered.

Pierre Paillard – Eight Generations in Grand Cru Bouzy

The Paillard family has cultivated vineyards in Bouzy for more than 200 years.

Eight generations of family history.

An extraordinary understanding of one of Champagne's greatest terroirs.

And a remarkable commitment to producing wines that express the individuality of their vineyards.

Today, brothers Antoine and Quentin Paillard are taking this historic estate to new heights.

Their approach combines generations of vineyard knowledge with thoughtful, precise winemaking.

The family is particularly celebrated for its exceptional Pinot Noir from Bouzy.

But Les Mottelettes is something completely different.

A single-vineyard, 100% Chardonnay Champagne from one of the world's most celebrated Pinot Noir villages.

And that is what makes this wine so fascinating.

Bouzy Grand Cru – An Extraordinary Place for Chardonnay

Bouzy is one of the legendary villages of the Montagne de Reims.

It is internationally celebrated for producing powerful, structured and beautifully complex Pinot Noir.

Its south-facing slopes and chalk-rich soils provide exceptional growing conditions.

But Chardonnay is relatively unusual here compared with the great Chardonnay villages of the Côte des Blancs.

And that is precisely what makes Les Mottelettes so exciting.

Rather than producing the delicate, linear Chardonnay often associated with some Côte des Blancs vineyards, this wine possesses remarkable power, breadth and concentration.

There is richness.

There is texture.

And there is extraordinary depth.

But the chalk soils preserve the mineral precision and freshness that make great Champagne so compelling.

This is Grand Cru Chardonnay with a personality entirely its own.

Les Mottelettes – An Extraordinary Old-Vine Vineyard

Les Mottelettes is a tiny single vineyard in Bouzy.

Approximately 0.61 hectares.

The oldest Chardonnay vines were planted in 1961 by the Paillard family's grandfather.

The vineyard sits on a south-facing slope, with clay-influenced soils over chalk.

These conditions create a fascinating combination.

The clay contributes breadth and structure.

The chalk provides freshness and mineral definition.

And the old vines give the wine extraordinary concentration and depth.

The family regards Les Mottelettes as a particularly important source of Chardonnay, using material from these vines to propagate other vineyard parcels.

This is not simply another vineyard. It is one of the most treasured Chardonnay sites in the family's holdings.

And the 2021 vintage is an extraordinary demonstration of its potential.

The 2021 Vintage – Remarkable Freshness and Concentration

The 2021 growing season was challenging across Champagne.

Frost, rain and disease pressure made vineyard management particularly demanding.

But exceptional growers working with carefully managed vineyards were still able to produce remarkable wines.

At Les Mottelettes, the Chardonnay retained beautiful natural acidity while developing the depth and structure for which the vineyard is celebrated.

The result is fascinating.

There is richness and concentration.

But also extraordinary freshness.

A powerful palate.

And remarkable mineral precision.

This is a Champagne that demonstrates what exceptional terroir and extraordinary winemaking can achieve even in a challenging vintage.

Traditional Barrel Fermentation – Chardonnay with Extraordinary Texture

The winemaking behind Les Mottelettes is deliberately traditional.

The Chardonnay undergoes fermentation with indigenous yeasts.

The wine is then fermented and matured in 350-litre oak barrels.

Malolactic fermentation is allowed to occur.

The wine is neither fined nor filtered.

This approach preserves the natural character of the vineyard while developing additional depth and texture.

The oak contributes complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

There is richness.

Beautiful integration.

And remarkable structure.

The result is a Champagne with the presence and sophistication of a great still Chardonnay.

Four Years on Lees – Extraordinary Complexity

After its initial maturation, the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in bottle.

The 2021 Les Mottelettes spent approximately 48 months ageing on its lees.

Four years of patient maturation.

This extended ageing contributes additional depth and complexity.

Freshly baked bread.

Pastry.

Toasted nuts.

Delicate savoury spice.

And a beautifully integrated mousse.

But what makes the wine particularly compelling is the way these characters complement the powerful old-vine Chardonnay.

This is Champagne with genuine structure, extraordinary texture and remarkable concentration.

Extra Brut – Just 3 Grams per Litre Dosage

The 2021 Les Mottelettes is finished with just 3 grams per litre dosage.

This places it firmly in the Extra Brut category.

The low dosage allows the extraordinary character of the vineyard to shine.

There is no excessive sweetness.

Instead, the natural concentration of the Chardonnay provides richness and balance.

The acidity gives freshness.

And the chalky terroir contributes mineral tension.

A magnificent combination of power, generosity and precision.

Cooked Apple, Pastry, Iodine and Extraordinary Mineral Complexity

James Suckling's 99-point review highlights the extraordinary aromatic complexity of the wine.

Cooked apples.

Pie crust.

Iodine.

And savoury, bacon-like nuances.

These are not the characteristics of a simple, delicate Champagne.

This is a wine with remarkable depth.

There is generous orchard fruit.

Beautifully integrated pastry complexity.

Savoury intensity.

And a distinctive saline character.

The palate is powerful and concentrated.

The texture is muscular.

The fruit possesses extraordinary intensity.

And the finish is long, structured and beautifully mineral.

This is a Champagne that behaves like one of the world's greatest Chardonnays.

99 Points – James Suckling

99 points is an exceptional achievement.

But there is more.

No. 10 Wine in France – James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of France 2026

This is the accolade that makes the 2021 Les Mottelettes particularly exciting.

NO. 10 WINE IN FRANCE FOR 2026.

For a small-production, single-vineyard grower Champagne to achieve this recognition is a remarkable accomplishment.

It is a magnificent endorsement of the Paillard brothers and their extraordinary Bouzy Chardonnay vineyard.

A Champagne for Lovers of Great White Burgundy

This is where Les Mottelettes becomes particularly exciting.

If you love the greatest Chardonnays of Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet or Meursault, this is a Champagne you absolutely need to experience.

The wine possesses many of the characteristics that make exceptional white Burgundy so compelling.

Old-vine concentration.

Single-vineyard pedigree.

Traditional barrel fermentation.

Beautiful texture.

And extraordinary complexity.

But it also possesses the remarkable freshness and mineral precision of Champagne.

James Suckling's comparison with Chevalier-Montrachet captures exactly why this wine is so special.

This is a serious Chardonnay first and foremost.

And an extraordinary Champagne.

Magnificent with Fine Dining

Les Mottelettes is a Champagne that deserves an exceptional meal.

Its richness, structure and savoury complexity make it a magnificent partner for lobster, turbot and premium scallops.

It would also be extraordinary with roast chicken and morels.

Or a beautifully prepared veal dish with a delicate cream sauce.

Aged Comté would be another magnificent match.

The wine has the power to complement rich food, while its natural acidity provides freshness and balance.

Serve it in a generous white wine glass and allow it time to reveal its remarkable complexity.

This is far too serious a Champagne to rush.

A Magnificent Champagne for the Cellar

The 2021 Les Mottelettes possesses the structure, concentration and freshness to reward careful cellaring.

Its old-vine intensity, barrel maturation and extended lees ageing provide a foundation for further development.

With time, the wine may develop additional layers of toasted nuts, pastry, savoury spice and mature Chardonnay complexity.

This is a Champagne for serious collectors, exceptional occasions and those who appreciate the world's greatest white wines.

Why We Love This Champagne at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we have an enormous appreciation for the extraordinary wines produced by France's greatest independent growers.

And the 2021 Pierre Paillard Les Mottelettes is exactly the kind of Champagne that makes us so excited.

First, there is the producer.

Pierre Paillard – eight generations of winemaking in Grand Cru Bouzy.

Then there is the vineyard.

A tiny, 0.61-hectare parcel of Chardonnay, with vines dating back to 1961.

Then there is the winemaking.

Indigenous fermentation.

Traditional oak barrels.

Four years ageing on lees.

And just 3 grams per litre dosage.

And finally, there is the recognition.

99 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

NO. 10 WINE IN FRANCE FOR 2026!

"CHEVALIER MONTRACHET WITH BUBBLES."

At $410 per bottle, this is undoubtedly a serious Champagne.

But this is also a small-production, single-vineyard Grand Cru Chardonnay that has achieved one of the most extraordinary accolades of the year.

If you love exceptional Chardonnay, the world's greatest white Burgundies or truly remarkable grower Champagne, this is a bottle you absolutely need to experience.

99 POINTS. TOP 10 IN FRANCE. GRAND CRU BOUZY. OLD-VINE CHARDONNAY. FOUR YEARS ON LEES.

2021 Pierre Paillard Les Mottelettes is one of the most exciting Champagnes we are delighted to recommend at Liquid Vibe.

Wine Details

• Producer: Champagne Pierre Paillard

• Wine: Les Mottelettes Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs

• Vintage: 2021

• Region: Champagne, France

• Village: Bouzy, Montagne de Reims

• Classification: Grand Cru

• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay

• Vineyard: Les Mottelettes, approximately 0.61 hectares

• Oldest Vine Planting: 1961

• Soils: Clay over chalk

• Exposure: South-facing

• Viticulture: Certified organic

• Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts in 350-litre oak barrels

• Malolactic Fermentation: Completed

• Lees Ageing: Approximately 48 months

• Dosage: 3 g/L

• Disgorgement: December 2025 for the reviewed release

• Style: Vintage Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne

• Critic Scores: 99 Points JamesSuckling.com

• Accolade: No. 10 – James Suckling Top 100 Wines of France 2026

• RRP: $410 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Lobster, turbot, scallops, roast chicken with morels, veal and aged Comté

• Serving Temperature: Approximately 10–12°C

• Cellaring: Enjoy now or cellar carefully under suitable conditions