Grande Réserve Demi-Sec
40% Pinot Noir
40% Meunier
20% Chardonnay
Cellar-aged at least 4-5 years.
TASTING NOTE
Appearance: golden and flecked in the light. Lively, nervous bubbles.
Nose: expressive and convivial, bursting with dried fruit notes of apricots and hazelnuts. Stewed fruit notes imparted by the pinot noir, developing pastry aromas.
Palate: In perfect harmony with the bouquet. Ample and generous to start, where the acidity and complexity from the reserve wines are in perfect balance. Lovely fleshly fruits, with notes of grape, small stone-fruits (plums) and juicy mango, topped off with a hint of candied lemon and marzipan.
Smooth, sweet, and overwhelmingly rounded on the finish.
PAIRINGS
Grande Réserve Demi-Sec is an obvious choice for desserts, partnering to perfection with tarts and pastries, brioche and petits fours, and even wedding cake! Yet, its rich and distrinctively vinous qualities are crying out for sweet and savoury dishes including foie gras and chutney, Caribbean island spices or Indian dishes, or even blue-veined cheese.
A total breath of fresh air, when the sun's out, enjoy with a few ice cubes and even a slice of fresh fruit for a delicious summer twist.
Dosage
Dosage consists of adding sugar and reserve wines after disgorgement. The amount of sugar may vary depending on the legal category of the resulting Champagne (from Brut to Demi-sec).
At Nicolas Feuillatte, the particular wine used is essential in this process as it will bring the finishing touch to the cuvée and impart balance, while fine-tuning texture and tonality. The wine will always be tailored to each individual cuvée to guarantee its distinctive style.
“The key element is anticipating the future Champagne from its intrinsic components. Within that I include the potential of the dosage at the very start of the creative process. I base my decisions on the quality of the reserve wines or the characteristics of the vintage year, on the sensory profile of the wines and the typical character I seek in each Champagne,” explains Guillaume Roffiaen. This way, the cellar master also plays on the finesse of the bubbles and the aromatic components. It is a work of precision juxtaposed with the meticulous art of blending.
Demi-Sec Champagne
Demi-Sec is a champagne style that came to light at the beginning of the 19th century when it was all the rage, in the days of tables laden with rich foods and when sweet wines were the order of the day to stand up to a more generous cooking-style.
The fact that Demi-Sec Champagne is currently making a significant comeback is because this style is once again right on trend and appreciated by wine enthusiasts reacquainting with its off-dry, easydrinking appeal.
Grande Réserve Demi-Sec is a sophisticated champagne, and an obvious match to complex food combinations - think sweet and savoury, or spicy. It also effortlessly marries with the seasons and an excellent choice when relaxing on a sun-drenched terrace.
