Ulysse Collin Blanc de Noirs Les Maillons Pinot Noir 2018

Olivier Collin, a sixth-generation winemaker, is celebrated for his low-intervention, terroir-focused approach. He reclaimed his family's vineyards in 2003, having previously leased them to a negociant.

• Terroir: The grapes for this wine come from the Les Maillons vineyard, planted in the early 1970s, in the village of Barbonne-Fayel. The iron-rich clay and chalk soil produce a powerful and fruit-forward Pinot Noir.
• Vinification: Following the influence of his mentor Anselme Selosse, Collin ferments and ages the base wines in neutral French oak barrels. The 2018 vintage was the first to use a new Coquard press, which some believe contributed to the wine's notable finesse.
• Aging: This non-vintage bottling spent 36 months aging on its lees.
• Dosage: The Extra Brut style reflects a very low dosage, or amount of sugar added, of just 2.4 grams per liter. 
• Fruit: This wine features bold fruit notes of mirabelle plum, dark red fruits, and rich red cherries and raspberries. It is also described as having hints of apricot and pear.
• Complexity: There are nuanced aromas of honeycomb, orange oil, bee pollen, spice, and toasted nuts.
• Minerality: Characteristic of the terroir, the wine displays minerality, with some tasters noting a salty, stony quality.
• Texture: Reviewers praise the wine's fleshy, vinous, and enveloping palate, with a fine, pillowy mousse. It is described as having a supple and round texture.