Champagne Pierre Baillette Le Village Extra Brut (2020 Base)

The opening gambit for Périne Baillette’s range is Le Village – a blend of Premier Cru sites – and a beautiful wine. For this release, the 60% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir come from the 2020 vintage, with 20% old-vine Meunier reserve wines. The base wines spent 10 months on the lees, with 40% in old 350-litre oak barrels and the rest in stainless steel. Disgorged in June 2023 with a dosage of 4g/l, it is really impressive for the price. There’s a lovely richness and breadth to the wine, yet with pinpoint acidity and a fine mousse that rolls pleasingly around the palate. Fleshy peach mingles with raspberry and zesty notes, while there’s a satisfying mineral, saline backbone that drives through the core of this weighty introduction to this soon-to-be-star grower.