2020 Pierre Paillard Verzenay Grand Cru – 95 Points James Suckling

95 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING! 95 POINTS JEB DUNNUCK! OLD-VINE GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR FROM ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S GREATEST VILLAGES!

95 Points JamesSuckling.com | 95 Points Jeb Dunnuck

2020 Pierre Paillard Verzenay Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs – Champagne, France

RRP $410 per bottle

If you love the extraordinary precision of great grower Champagne, the sophistication of old-vine Pinot Noir and the magnificent mineral character of Champagne's finest Grand Cru vineyards, this is a wine you absolutely need to experience.

The 2020 Pierre Paillard Verzenay Grand Cru is one of the most fascinating Champagnes in the estate's remarkable portfolio.

And what makes it so exciting is its personality.

Where Bouzy produces Pinot Noir renowned for richness, generosity and power, Verzenay is celebrated for its remarkable freshness, chalky minerality, structure and elegance.

This is Pinot Noir with extraordinary tension.

Beautiful concentration.

And a remarkable sense of precision.

100% PINOT NOIR. GRAND CRU VERZENAY. OLD VINES. EXTRA BRUT.

Produced from two exceptional vineyard parcels planted in 1967 and 1979.

Traditionally matured in oak.

Aged for approximately four and a half years on lees.

And finished with just 2 grams per litre dosage.

The result is a Champagne of extraordinary finesse, depth and mineral intensity.

95 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

95 POINTS JEB DUNNUCK!

At $410 per bottle, this is a serious Champagne for collectors and anyone who appreciates the world's finest vineyard-driven wines.

Pierre Paillard – Eight Generations of Extraordinary Champagne History

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

Eight generations of experience.

An extraordinary understanding of Grand Cru terroir.

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

Based in the legendary Grand Cru village of Bouzy, the family estate is now led by brothers Antoine and Quentin Paillard.

Their philosophy centres on the vineyard.

Rather than producing Champagnes that conform to a uniform house style, they seek to reveal the unique personality of each site.

And their exploration of the great Pinot Noir villages of the Montagne de Reims is particularly fascinating.

Bouzy.

Ambonnay.

And Verzenay.

Each village produces Pinot Noir with its own distinctive character.

The 2020 Verzenay Grand Cru is a magnificent example of just how extraordinary those differences can be.

Verzenay Grand Cru – The Extraordinary Precision of Pinot Noir

Verzenay is one of Champagne's legendary Grand Cru villages.

Situated on the northern side of the Montagne de Reims, its vineyards possess a very different character from the warmer southern exposures of Bouzy.

Verzenay is renowned for producing Pinot Noir with exceptional structure, freshness and mineral precision.

The cooler exposures allow the grapes to retain beautiful acidity.

The chalk-rich soils contribute remarkable tension and finesse.

And the resulting wines possess extraordinary ageing potential.

This is Pinot Noir that combines concentration with restraint.

Power with elegance.

And richness with remarkable freshness.

Exactly the characteristics that define the world's greatest Grand Cru Champagnes.

Two Extraordinary Old-Vine Vineyards

The 2020 Pierre Paillard Verzenay Grand Cru is produced from two exceptional vineyard parcels.

Les Corettes – Planted in 1979

Located beneath the famous Verzenay windmill, Les Corettes is characterised by exceptionally chalk-rich soils.

In places, there is very little topsoil above the underlying chalk.

This contributes extraordinary mineral precision, freshness and structure.

Les Champs Saint-Martin – Planted in 1967

This is a cooler, stony vineyard with a northerly exposure.

The old vines produce Pinot Noir with remarkable depth and complexity.

The cooler site contributes freshness and beautiful natural acidity.

Together, these vineyards create an extraordinary expression of Verzenay.

The concentration of old-vine Pinot Noir.

The freshness of northern exposures.

And the remarkable mineral character of Champagne's chalk soils.

This is a Champagne that speaks unmistakably of its origins.

The 2020 Vintage – Richness Meets Precision

The 2020 growing season produced ripe, concentrated fruit across many of Champagne's leading vineyards.

But what makes Verzenay particularly fascinating is its ability to retain freshness and structure.

The cooler vineyard exposures help balance the richness of the vintage.

The result is a Champagne with beautiful fruit concentration but remarkable energy.

There is depth.

There is texture.

And there is extraordinary mineral tension.

The 2020 Pierre Paillard Verzenay combines the generosity of the vintage with the remarkable precision of its Grand Cru terroir.

Traditional Oak Maturation – Extraordinary Texture and Complexity

The wine is matured in oak barrels before undergoing its second fermentation in bottle.

This traditional approach contributes beautiful integration and complexity.

But the oak does not overwhelm the Pinot Noir.

Instead, it complements the fruit's natural depth.

Subtle toasted notes.

Delicate spice.

Beautiful texture.

And a wonderfully harmonious palate.

The defining character remains the extraordinary purity of Verzenay Pinot Noir.

This is serious Champagne made with the precision and attention normally associated with the world's greatest still wines.

Four and a Half Years on Lees – Remarkable Patience

Following its initial maturation, the wine is bottled under natural cork for its secondary fermentation.

It then spends approximately four and a half years ageing on lees.

This extended maturation contributes extraordinary complexity.

Fresh brioche.

Toasted nuts.

Delicate pastry.

Savoury spice.

And a beautifully integrated mousse.

But what makes the wine so compelling is the way this complexity combines with the natural freshness of Verzenay.

There is maturity.

There is depth.

But also remarkable energy and precision.

A magnificent combination of richness, structure and finesse.

Extra Brut – Just 2 Grams per Litre Dosage

The 2020 Verzenay Grand Cru is finished with just 2 grams per litre dosage.

This is exceptionally restrained.

And it allows the extraordinary mineral character of the vineyards to remain beautifully defined.

There is no excessive sweetness.

The old-vine Pinot Noir provides concentration.

The chalky soils contribute mineral precision.

And the natural acidity gives the wine extraordinary freshness.

This is Champagne that is beautifully dry, wonderfully structured and remarkably elegant.

Ripe Peach, Lemon, Red Berries and Extraordinary Chalky Minerality

The aromatic profile of the 2020 Verzenay is magnificent.

James Suckling's 95-point review highlights ripe peach, sliced lemon and apple.

Jeb Dunnuck describes a more restrained expression, with fresh red berries, incense, apricot and saline complexity.

These tasting notes capture the extraordinary personality of the wine.

There is beautiful fruit.

But also remarkable mineral precision.

Think fresh red berries.

Ripe peach.

Apricot.

Lemon zest.

Delicate spice.

And subtle toasted complexity.

On the palate, the Champagne possesses remarkable structure.

There is depth and concentration.

But the wine remains beautifully focused.

The bubbles are fine.

The acidity is vibrant.

And the finish is long, chalky and wonderfully saline.

This is Grand Cru Pinot Noir with extraordinary elegance and precision.

95 Points – James Suckling

A magnificent endorsement for one of Pierre Paillard's most compelling Grand Cru Champagnes.

95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck

An extraordinary endorsement of the wine's quality and cellar potential.

Verzenay vs Bouzy – Two Extraordinary Expressions of Pinot Noir

One of the most fascinating aspects of Pierre Paillard's portfolio is the opportunity to explore different Grand Cru villages.

Bouzy Grand Cru

Typically richer and more generous.

Powerful Pinot Noir.

Beautiful fruit concentration.

And a broad, structured palate.

Verzenay Grand Cru

Cooler and more restrained.

Extraordinary chalky minerality.

Remarkable freshness.

And beautifully precise structure.

Neither is inherently better.

They simply express different terroirs.

If you love rich, powerful Pinot Noir Champagne, Bouzy is magnificent. If you prefer mineral tension, elegance and precision, Verzenay is absolutely extraordinary.

A Magnificent Champagne for Fine Dining

The 2020 Verzenay is a Champagne that deserves an exceptional meal.

Its structure, depth and mineral precision make it particularly versatile.

Think scallop carpaccio.

Pan-seared salmon.

Turbot.

Lobster.

Roast chicken.

And delicate mushroom dishes.

The wine's savoury complexity also makes it an excellent partner for aged Comté and carefully prepared poultry.

For something particularly memorable, serve it with pan-seared salmon and a delicate butter sauce.

The Champagne's freshness cuts through the richness while its mineral character complements the fish.

This is a Champagne that deserves to be enjoyed as a serious wine, not simply poured as an aperitif.

A Champagne for the Serious Collector

The 2020 Pierre Paillard Verzenay possesses the structure, concentration and freshness to reward careful cellaring.

The old-vine Pinot Noir provides depth.

The chalky terroir contributes mineral precision.

Traditional oak maturation adds complexity.

And extended lees ageing gives the wine remarkable integration.

Jeb Dunnuck's drinking window of 2026–2040 is a particularly compelling endorsement of its potential.

This is a Champagne that can be enjoyed now for its youthful precision or cellared to develop additional savoury complexity.

Why We Love This Champagne at Liquid Vibe

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

And the 2020 Pierre Paillard Verzenay Grand Cru is exactly the kind of wine that excites us.

First, there is the producer.

Pierre Paillard – eight generations of winemaking history.

Then there is the terroir.

Grand Cru Verzenay – one of Champagne's greatest Pinot Noir villages.

Then there are the vineyards.

Old vines planted in 1967 and 1979.

Then there is the winemaking.

Traditional oak maturation.

Four and a half years ageing on lees.

And just 2 grams per litre dosage.

And finally, there is the critical recognition.

95 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

95 POINTS JEB DUNNUCK!

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

But this is also a magnificent expression of old-vine Grand Cru Pinot Noir from one of Champagne's most fascinating terroirs.

A wine of extraordinary depth.

Beautiful structure.

Remarkable mineral precision.

And genuine collector appeal.

If you love exceptional Pinot Noir, the world's greatest grower Champagnes or wines that reveal the extraordinary individuality of their vineyards, this is a bottle you absolutely need to experience.

GRAND CRU VERZENAY. OLD-VINE PINOT NOIR. FOUR AND A HALF YEARS ON LEES. EXTRA BRUT. TWO 95-POINT SCORES.

2020 Pierre Paillard Verzenay Grand Cru is a magnificent Champagne – and one we are delighted to recommend at Liquid Vibe.

Wine Details

• Producer: Champagne Pierre Paillard

• Wine: Verzenay Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs

• Vintage: 2020

• Region: Champagne, France

• Village: Verzenay, Montagne de Reims

• Classification: Grand Cru

• Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

• Vineyards: Les Corettes and Les Champs Saint-Martin

• Vine Plantings: 1979 and 1967 respectively

• Terroir: Chalk-rich and stony soils, predominantly northern exposures

• Maturation: Oak barrels

• Secondary Fermentation: Bottle fermentation under natural cork

• Lees Ageing: Approximately 4.5 years

• Dosage: 2 g/L

• Style: Vintage Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs Grower Champagne

• Critic Scores: 95 Points JamesSuckling.com | 95 Points Jeb Dunnuck

• RRP: $410 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Scallops, salmon, turbot, lobster, roast chicken and aged Comté

• Serving Temperature: Approximately 10–12°C

• Cellaring: drinking 2026–2040