Terre de Vertus Non Dosé 1er Cru 2015

The Terre de Vertus is a single-site champagne: it comes exclusively from Chardonnay grown in the Les Barillers and Les Faucherets vineyards, from a single year, 2015. It is classified Premier Cru and goes into the bottle without dosage. On the nose there are white fruits, dried fruits and a light spiciness. On the palate citrus, apple and pear mingle, carried by freshness and a fine minerality. Saltiness and complexity make it unusual, and the finish is iodine-like and peppery.

It works well at the start of a meal. Oysters and smoked salmon are obvious partners, and thin slices of Pata Negra hold their own with it. Surprisingly, it also goes very well with apple tart. Serve it at 10 to 12 degrees in a wide white wine glass.