Smooth, delicate Champagne wines
The great majority of Champagne wines are produced with a dosage that brings their sugar level to less than 12 grams per litre, placing them in the "Brut" category. However, there are wines in which the sugar content is higher, between 17 and 32 grams of sugar per litre for a dry Champagne, between 32 and 50 grams for a demi-sec, and over 50 grams for a sweet wine.
Such wines may not be the most common but they’re still well worth discovering.
They’re rounder, more indulgent, providing fruity notes that are very sweet on the palate. They can bring rather interesting associations with certain dishes, including sweet and sour recipes.
- Tones to the eye: Green Yellow / Lemon Yellow
On the nose:
- Fruity: Citrus, red or yellow fruits, whether fresh or candied, may come to the fore.
- Spicy: This profile includes notes of vanilla, pepper and cinnamon.
On the palate:
- Expressive: The aromas and flavours are rich, forthcoming and easily detectable.
- Round: The wine is imbued with a certain suppleness and finesse.
- Doux: How sweet the wine tastes comes from its sugar content (naturally occurring and/or added).
- Gourmet: The intense aromas and flavours appeal to the senses and feel deliciously tempting.
- Full- bodied: A wine’s full-bodied side is associated with a sense of density and roundness on the palate.
An explosive pairing:
Strawberry and pistachio tart. The sweetness of these wines is especially well suited to desserts, and goes perfectly with pistachio.
For what sort of occasions? Intimate occasions: Tea-time with friends, with delicate financier cakes and pastries further enhanced by the Champagne’s sweetness. Great occasions: as an Easter lunch comes to a close, to accompany desserts at the end of the meal.