Tagged Champagne

As Napoleon is reputed to have said, “Champagne: in roaring economies you deserve it, in recession you need it.”

In the glass, there’s a profusion of very small bubbles. Aroma opens with light notes of yeast and agar, a hint of toast, later becoming toastier, almost caramelized. The first sip is raspberry and lemon. A creamy mouthfeel gives way to a combination of fruit and tartness on the palate it takes to the finish line—a long finish that in the end becomes citric, bone dry. Highly recommended. BSE

Very pale gold color with tiny bubbles. Light toast, baked apples, and mandarin oranges waft up from the glass. On the palate, it opens with soft yeasty bread and apple flavors, adding sweet oranges and almonds on the mid-palate. The mousse is very active, mouth-filling, the acids bright. It is a pretty wine. Drink it with stone crabs. Highly recommended. DH

Clear, bright, medium straw yellow. Fine bubbles cascade up the glass. The nose is clean with medium intensity aromas of lemon, chalk, biscuit, cooked yellow apple, and yellow cherries. This is a dry wine with a full mousse, and large fleeting bubbles on the palate. It has medium-high acidity, medium body, medium alcohol (11.5%) and flavors of bright citrus, grapefruit, lemon, and green apple. The finish is long and creamy, and leaves a taste of salted caramel in the mouth. A good wine, especially for the suggested retail price. Pair with a salad with fresh fruit, grilled white peaches, roasted sole, or white chocolate truffles with black sea salt.