Les Allies Sparkling Brut

Les Allies Sparkling Brut is a Champagne-labelled sparkling wine at 12.0% ABV. The producer's notes call it crisp, with fruity and floral character. The grape blend isn't listed, so treat the following as what brut Champagne typically offers. Most are built from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier in varying proportions, and they tend to show green apple, pear and citrus, sometimes with white blossom. Bottle fermentation usually adds a toasty or brioche note, and the bubbles are fine and persistent. "Brut" means the wine is dry, with less than 12 grams of residual sugar per litre. Expect high acidity that keeps the finish clean and lifted, with moderate body and no tannin or oak-driven weight to speak of. Serve it well chilled, around 6 to 8°C, which in practice means roughly three hours in the refrigerator or 25 to 30 minutes in an ice bucket filled with half ice and half water. Colder than that mutes the fruit and floral side, and warmer lets the acidity and alcohol feel loose. There is no reason to decant a sparkling wine, since that would only release the carbonation. Pour into a tulip-shaped glass or a white wine glass. The narrower opening of a tulip holds the aromas while still leaving room for the bead of bubbles to rise. A wide, shallow coupe lets both the aroma and the fizz fade quickly. To open the bottle, hold the cork while turning the bottle, so it comes out with a soft sigh instead of a pop. Dry, high-acid sparkling wine suits salty and fried food, so it works with potato chips, tempura, fried chicken, oysters and other shellfish. It also suits soft, creamy cheeses such as brie and young goat cheese, and smoked salmon on blinis. It copes with lightly spiced dishes as well, where acidity and bubbles refresh the palate between bites. Because it is dry, it isn't a good match for sweet desserts. Past a fruit tart or lightly sweetened cake, it can taste thin and sharp. Non-vintage brut Champagne is generally made to be opened soon after release. Unless the bottle is marked otherwise, plan to drink it within a couple of years, keeping it lying down or upright in a cool, dark place away from heat and vibration. Once opened, a sparkling wine stopper will keep the fizz for a day or so at most.