Description
Champagne Pierre Baillette ‘Bulles Roses’ 1er Cru Rosé de Saignée NV
Périne, Pierre’s daughter, runs this small domaine where everything is done by hand or horse (which are shared with her husband and well-known vigneron Alexandre Chartogne of Chartogne-Taillet). She produces miniscule quantities (circa 10,000-15,000 bottles per year) of delicious, elegant, and bright terroir-focused Champagne.
Just to the south of Reims, this small domaine cultivates vineyards in three premier cru and grand cru villages in the Montagne de Reims – Trois Puits, Rilly-la-Montagne, and Verzenay. The three main Champagne grape varieties – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Meunier – are all grown. No herbicides or pesticides are sprayed in the vineyards and draft horses are used to plough in order to reduce soil compaction.
In the cellar the wines are fermented with indigenous yeasts, spend time in large oak barrels before bottling, and age on their lees for 3-6 years. The wines see little dosage and a solera is used to age the reserve wines.
Pierre Baillette has received little press outside of France, but the Bulles Roses was recently featured on the cover of Noble Rot, so the secret is finally out. We suggest you snap up a bottle while you can!
