Champagne Nicolas Maillart Platine 1er Cru NV

90 / 100

Essi Avellan MW, Club Oenologique

Nicolas Maillart's bread-and-butter cuvée Platine is a Pinot Noir-dominant blend from Villers-Allerand, Ecueil and Bouzy. There is a light peachy hue to the colour. The nose opens with a lovely toasty whiff supporting the ripe red- and yellow-fruit profile. Oak plays a supporting role, never overshadowing the fruit. Peach, baked apricot, yellow apple and spicy tones. The rounded, fruit-forward palate has an appealing suppleness to it. The finish is very dry, with some ripe phenolics bringing an edge of firmness.

Nicolas Maillart is a ninth-generation grape grower located in the Ecueil village in the Champagne Petite Montagne region. He is a grower (Récoltant-Manipulant), meaning he grows the grapes used to make his Champagne rather than purchasing it from others. His family history in the grape-growing region goes back to 1753.

Since 2009, Nicolas has made it a priority to reduce the environmental footprint. As a result, the winery uses its own generated solar energy. It is certified HVE (haute valeur environnementale), which looks at the farm as a whole and sustainability across all processes. The preferred farming methods are organic and biodynamic, respecting the earth's rhythms.

Their vineyards are located in the Premier and Grand Cru villages of the Montagne de Reims, planted at the ideal mid-slope aspect, an advantage of his family having been in the region historically. Reflecting the area, his plantings are predominantly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.