Bruno Paillard N.P.U. Nec Plus Ultra 1999 Gift Box

11,508 bouteilles, disgorged in Jan 2012 , in original gift box

Bruno Paillard N.P.U. - "NEC PLUS ULTRA" is an exceptional champagne only made in years considered great and as a literal translation from latin means "there is nothing better", it is the flagship of the house, showing off the best of what they can produce. Fruit for this wine only comes from the most sought-after Grands Crus in Champagne. This wine is fermented in small oak barrels for the first 10 months, aged on lees for 10 years and followed by 2 years of bottle ageing after disgorgement.

N.P.U - « Nec Plus Ultra ». was born from the idea to create the greatest possible Champagne wine, whatever the constraints.  For this, decisions were made at the highest level for each stage of its development. From this crazy dream was created a champagne at the height of winemaking... N.P.U. -The Ultimate-.  So far only in nine vintages 1990, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009.

As the 4th vintage in this series, the 1999 summer drought significantly stressed the vine until several short but frequent rains arrived early September, which progressively brought the fruits to maturity. The 1999 harvest offered perfectly healthy grapes, allying aromatic richness with a very interesting ageing potential ;  this another exceptional champagne for ageing. The 1999 N.P.U. rapes are from four of the 17 only rated Grands Crus were selected to create N.P.U - Nec Plus Ultra 1999: Bouzy, Verzenay, Oger, Le Mesnil sur Oger. Not just born in a great vintage, the grapes also originate from the most noble crus.  In July 2000, we selected and blended the best 42 barriques (21 of chardonnay, 21 of pinot noir) of which we obtained 11 508 bottles and 508 magnums, each of them being numbered. 

The second fermentation followed almost immediately after bottling and a long maturation started in our 10,5°C temperature controlled cellars. These bottles remained ageing this for way more than 12 years, including a “convalescence” rest after its disgorgement – which date is indicated on its back label. As always at Bruno Paillard, the “dosage” is very low. For N.P.U. – Nec Plus Ultra it is reduced to a strict minimum, 4 g/L, hardly perceptible. The bottles are returned to the cellar for a year of “recovery rest” before their launch on the market. 

Bruno Paillard N.P.U. series is only produced in limited quantities in the best years. Indulge yourself in this fine and rare wine for your next special occasion whether now or in years, this Champagne is ready to drink or can be part of the collection in your cellar.