Growing our growers - Bancroft Wines announces a new Champagne: Gratiot Pillière

We're happy to announce today that we've taken on Gratiot Pillière as exclusive UK agent this month as a new Champagne addition to our 2016 Portfolio.

 

This new addition to our list underlines our support of the grower Champagne industry and the quality that can be found outside of the grand-marques. We showed both wines at our Annual Portfolio Tasting last week and received very positive feedback all round. The other grower Champagnes we currently stock include Pierre Paillard (Grand Cru, Bouzy), Pierre Moncuit (Grand Cru, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger) and Champagne René Geoffory (1er Cru, AŸ).

Gratiot-Pillière uses Pinot Meunier as the predominant base varietal in its blends – an emblematic Marne Valley varietal which brings an intense fruitiness and fullness to the wines.

We will be offering two of their cuvées: the Extra-Brut Tradition and the Gratiot Pillière Rosé.

The Extra-Brut Tradition is pure and elegant in style, vibrant grey-gold in colour with fine bubbles and notes of acacia and hazelnut. On the palate it is straightforward but poised with a naked minerality and a subtle fruit finish. It is made from 74% Pinot Meunier, 16% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir.

The Gratiot Pillière Rosé is ripe and inviting. Its expressive nose blends delicate red fruit with notes of cherries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries. It offers delicate fleshy fruit in the mouth with an elegant finish and comprises 79% Pinot Meunier and 21% Chardonnay.

The Gratiot-Pillière family have operated as a family winemaking establishment since 1657. Today it is in the hands of 11^th generation father and son vignerons Olivier and Sébastien. The family vineyards cover 18 hectares of land, spread throughout the small towns of Charly-Sur-Marne, Saulchery, Bonneil and Azy-Sur-Marne, putting name to their excellent quality. Subtle blends of Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from across the varied terroir gives a style that is fresh, balanced and replete with delicate fruit.

The family’s focus has always been on quality, authenticity and value above all else; the champagnes that we produce reflect our commitment, knowledge passed down from generation to generation and passion.

For pricing, or to request a sample, please contact your account manager or, get in touch with the office directly.