Nicolas Maillart is a family grower in the village of Écueil on the Montagne de Reims. The house makes Pinot Noir-led Champagne from its own premier and grand cru vineyards, fermented and aged in wood and finished with little dosage: grower Champagne with a clear sense of place.
Nicolas Maillart: grower Champagne from Écueil since the 1700s
The Maillart family has grown vines on the Montagne de Reims since at least 1753, when their ancestors farmed in Chamery, and a document from 1533 already mentions a Pierre Maillart in the area. Nicolas Maillart took over the family vineyards in 2003 after studying engineering and oenology, and has since made the house one of the most talked-about growers on the Montagne de Reims. The vineyards lie in the premier cru villages of Écueil and Villers-Allerand and the grand cru village of Bouzy, and much of the planting comes from massal selection of the family's own old vines. The estate is certified for sustainable farming (HVE) and runs on its own solar panels.
Pinot Noir, oak and low dosage: how Nicolas Maillart works
The style is built on Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims, which gives Champagne with body, red fruit and a distinct chalky minerality. Every wine is fermented and aged in oak barrels or larger foudres, lightly sulphured and bottled unfiltered. Dosage is low, and most of the range is labelled Extra Brut. The result is Champagne with texture and depth that opens up with a little air in the glass and works as well at the table as it does as an aperitif.
Platine, Mont Martin, Les Coupés and Jolivettes
1er Cru Platine
Platine is the house's classic cuvée, a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier from the premier cru sites, with some reserve wine. It is the way into the style: generous and fresh, with a light nutty note from the barrels, and it comes in magnum as well as bottle.
Mont Martin and Les Coupés
Mont Martin is a vintage Champagne from a single vineyard in Villers-Allerand, made from Pinot Meunier, with soft fruit and a long, chalky finish. Les Coupés comes from a small plot in Écueil planted with ungrafted Pinot Noir, mostly in 1973. That is a rarity in Champagne, where almost every vine has stood on American rootstock since phylloxera, and the wine is concentrated and deep.
Jolivettes Grand Cru and Millésime
Jolivettes is a blanc de noirs from the grand cru village of Bouzy, rich and powerful with darker fruit. The house's 1er Cru Millésime, here from 2008, shows how well these wines develop with extra years in the cellar.
Nicolas Maillart FAQ
What is a Nicolas Maillart blanc de noirs?
A blanc de noirs is a white Champagne made only from black grapes, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. At Nicolas Maillart that includes Jolivettes from Bouzy, Mont Martin from Villers-Allerand and Les Coupés from Écueil. The label often just says "Maillart".
What does Extra Brut mean on a Nicolas Maillart Champagne?
Extra Brut means very little added sugar, no more than six grams per litre. It lets the character of the vineyard and the barrel ageing take centre stage.
What food goes with Nicolas Maillart?
Platine suits oysters, shellfish and sushi. The fuller wines, such as Jolivettes and Les Coupés, can take roast chicken, veal with a mushroom sauce, truffle and aged hard cheese.
Which other grower Champagnes are similar?
If you like oak-aged, vineyard-driven grower Champagne, try Jacques Selosse and Champagne Marguet, or explore our full range of Champagne.