Cordon Bleu Extra-Brut

With the Cordon Bleu Extra-Brut from De Venoge, the blend stays the same as in the other Cordon Bleu cuvées: 50 per cent Pinot Noir, 25 per cent each of Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. What is new is the dosage of just 3.5 g/l. Four years of ageing in the cellar give it remarkable fullness despite the low sugar.

The first impression is freshness. On the palate come white fruit, citrus and peach, carried by a clear, straightforward structure. That makes it an aperitif for lovers of dry champagne. Oysters, seafood platters and steamed fish are also good partners. Pour it at 7 to 9 °C in a tulip glass, where fruit and precision show to best effect.