Drappier Carte D'Or Champagne

Drappier Carte D'Or is a Champagne-style brut sparkling wine, so expect a dry, bottle-fermented profile built on fine bubbles and a firm acidic spine. Cuvées sold under this name usually lean on Pinot Noir, which adds red-apple and white-cherry fruit, a little brioche or toasted-almond character from time on the lees, and a rounder mid-palate than a Chardonnay-only blend. Expect a medium body, lively but not aggressive acidity, no perceptible oak, and a clean, slightly nutty finish. The details supplied for this bottle don't list a dosage, blend, vintage or ABV, so check the label for those specifics. At the table, the acidity and the yeasty richness make it more flexible than its celebratory image suggests. It works well with fried foods such as tempura, fish and chips and fried chicken, where the bubbles cut through the oil. Oysters, scallops and soft triple-cream cheeses like brie also suit it. Salted nuts, gougères and charcuterie are easy matches, and a roast chicken with a pan sauce can carry a bottle through a whole meal. Very sweet desserts will make a brut style taste sharper than it is, so pair it with fruit tarts or leave it for the start of the meal. Serve it well chilled, around 45 to 50°F, which a few hours in the refrigerator or about 30 minutes in an ice bucket of ice and water will reach. Colder than that mutes the bread-and-nut complexity. Decanting is not needed, and it would flatten the mousse. Pour it into a tulip-shaped white wine glass or a universal flute-tulip hybrid, which keeps the bubbles lively while leaving room for the aromas. A narrow flute holds the fizz but hides much of the nose. This is a drink-now bottle. Non-vintage cuvées of this type are made to be ready on release, and a year or two in a cool, dark place won't hurt it, but there is little reason to cellar it for long.