Bailly Lapierre Cremant De

Bailly Lapierre Crémant is a sparkling wine, and the name points to the crémant category, which usually means a bottle-fermented sparkler where the bubbles come from a second fermentation in the bottle. The listing gives no grape blend, vintage, dosage level or alcohol figure, so the profile below describes what crémant-style wines typically offer, not measured details of this bottle. The listing also gives United States and Massachusetts as the origin, which is worth checking against the label before you plan around a specific regional style. In this style, expect a fine, persistent mousse that feels creamier than tank-method sparklers. Aromas usually run to green apple, pear and citrus peel, sometimes with a bready or lightly nutty edge from time on the lees. Most are dry to off-dry. The body is light to medium, with brisk acidity that keeps the finish clean. Oak is rarely a feature, and tannin is essentially absent. The finish tends to be crisp and moderately long, and a brut-level dosage leaves it dry without being austere. At the table, this kind of wine works best with salty and fried foods, since acidity and carbonation cut through fat. Good matches include oysters and shellfish, fried chicken, potato chips, soft rinds such as brie or camembert, smoked salmon blini, and mild sushi. It also holds up against creamy pasta and goat cheese salads. If the bottle turns out to be off-dry, it can go with lightly spiced Thai or Vietnamese dishes. Crémant is also a sensible base for a sparkling cocktail like a Kir Royale or a French 75, where it replaces pricier Champagne. Serve it well chilled, around 42 to 47°F (6 to 8°C). A couple of hours in the refrigerator, or 20 to 30 minutes in an ice bath, gets it there. Do not decant it, because that would only dissipate the bubbles. A tulip-shaped white wine glass or a flute works, and the tulip shows the aromatics better. Sparklers like this are generally made to drink within a few years of purchase, so open it soon unless the label indicates a vintage-dated, age-worthy cuvée. Once opened, a sparkling wine stopper will keep it lively for a day.