The new Bruno Paillard Dosage : Zero.
The new Bruno Paillard Dosage : Zero.
(Image credit: Bruno Paillard)

Independent family Champagne house Bruno Paillard, known for exclusively producing extra brut cuvées, has broken with tradition to launch a zero dosage style. Below, Premium subscribers can read an interview with Paillard about the new wine, as well as a full tasting note.

The new Bruno Paillard Dosage : Zero – or D:Z for short – is the house’s second attempt at a sugar-free style; its first was made 35 years ago, shortly after Bruno Paillard created the house in 1981.

Scroll down to see the Dosage Zero tasting note and score

Why did he decide to have another go?

‘In the last 35 years many things have changed in Champagne,’ Paillard told Decanter.com at the launch in London. ‘First of course is global warming. Second is the importance of reserve wines, which I did not have 35 years ago.’

He added, ‘And now 70% of my grapes come from my own vineyards, where I can practice organic growing. All these points together made it possible to change our view on this subject of dosage zero and not do what we did wrong 35 years ago – but start from scratch.’

The new release is made from a blend of base wines specially selected to suit the zero dosage style.

Paillard compensated for the lack of sugar by using a larger percentage of Pinot Meunier for body, more reserve wines for complexity and barrel fermentation for texture.

‘It’s almost half Meunier grapes, which deliver more fatness and roundness,’ he explained.

‘It is also more than 50% reserve wines, and more than half barrel fermentation. Among the reserve wines are some that go back to the 1985 vintage, which add a little spice. It was designed on purpose not to be aggressive – which is the problem of most dosage zeros you find on the market,’ he added.

Based on the 2013 vintage, the new cuvée is a blend of base wines from over 30 crus. The blend is dominated by Pinot Meunier from the Montagne de Reims (around 50%), with equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Around 1,500 to 2,000 cases will be made annually; about 5% of the house’s total production.

How it tastes – Bruno Paillard Dosage : Zero

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Bruno Paillard, Dosage Zero, Champagne, France

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Nearly 30 different wines compose this bracing Champagne, prepared without any dosage. Only the best quality, first press juice is used for the base wines,...

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Julie Sheppard
Julie Sheppard
Regional Editor for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa & Spirits Editor

Julie Sheppard joined the Decanter team in 2018 and is Regional Editor for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa & Spirits Editor.

Before Decanter, she worked for a range of drinks and food titles, including as managing editor of both Imbibe and Square Meal, associate publisher of The Drinks Business, senior editor of the Octopus Publishing Group and Supplements editor of Harpers Wine & Spirit. As a contributor, she has over 20 years’ experience writing about food, drink and travel for a wide range of publications, including Condé Nast Traveller, Delicious, Waitrose Kitchen, Waitrose Drinks, Time Out and national newspapers including The Telegraph and The Sunday Times.

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