2011 Nicolas Maillart Les Chaillot Gillis
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Nicholas Maillart is a négociant but only buys grapes from his family. Massal selection replanting, not bought-in clones. 18.5 ha domaine, based in Eceuil, Bouzy and Villers-Allerand. An emphasis on sustainability – certified HVE. Winemaking with stainless steel and oak. Barrels come from Domaine d’Auvenay in Burgundy. Production about 150,000 bottles. Founding member of the ‘Artisans de Champagne’ group. The Chaillots Gillis cuvée is 100% Chardonnay from two parcels planted in 1963: Les Chaillots and Les Gillis. Spontaneous fermentation in new oak, malo blocked. Bottled 2012. Disgorged November 2016. Dosage 0 g/l. Really fine and complex and dancing on the nose. Excellent texture and tight focus. To get this much richness with zero dosage is pretty clever. This is a lovely, well balanced, not at all austere drink that I forebore to spit at an early evening tasting. Long and spreads like a peacock’s tail on the end. Really satisfies in a sore throat way. Tight and intense. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
100% Chardonnay. 100% barrel-fermented. Single vineyard in Écueil. Malo blocked. Unfiltered. Bottled 2012. Disgorged January 2015. Dosage 0 g/l. Exciting flirtatious wine with depth too. Grip and not too frothy. Very good stuff. (JR)
The 2011 Chaillots Gillis Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut is sourced from two south-facing blocks with 56-year-old vines. This Champagne is rich and ripe on the nose, with great purity and bit of firmness; it is also very firm and dry, a bit austere. Disgorged in January 2015, this is really fresh, lively and pure, but a bit reductive, very firm and austere at the moment. A really good 2011, this is promising.
About the producer
Product details
12.5%
Blanc de Blancs