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5 min read
In the world of sparkling wine, savoring Champagne is an art form, a symphony of the senses that influences the tasting experience. Every element, from the delicate aroma that dances from the glass to the nuanced flavors that unfold on your palate, contributes to the experience.
Sarah Durand, global brand ambassador at Champagne Lallier, emphasizes the multi-sensory nature of Champagne appreciation: “What’s great about Champagne wines is that they appeal to our five senses,” she says.
- Sound: “Tasting Champagne wine appeals to our hearing, whether it is with the well-known pop or a discreet sigh when you open a bottle, or the sound of the bubbles in the glass.”
- Sight: “Look at the color and the bubbles—the glass you’ll be using also has a strong impact on the bubbles.”
- Smell: “Then our sense of smell, meaning the aromas delivered by the wine. The first smell, called the first nose, will offer you a first batch of aromas. Then, to allow the wine to express its full complexity, you can swirl the wine in the glass and smell it again. This is the second nose. Deeper, more complex, more precise, and even new aromas will be revealed.”
- Taste: “Our sense of taste, to appreciate the liveliness, the body, the salinity, the aromatic persistence, and the overall balance on the palate.”
- Touch: “Lastly, we use our sense of touch to feel the texture of the wines, the delicacy of the bubbles.”
Sarah Durand’s words remind us that appreciating Champagne is a holistic experience, one that engages all our senses. By paying attention to the visual, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, and even auditory aspects of Champagne, we can enjoy and savor its complexity and elegance.
Preparing to Taste
At Champagne Lallier, we believe that savoring Champagne is a ritual, a multi-sensorial experience that begins long before the first sip. To fully appreciate the nuances and complexities of our meticulously crafted Champagnes, thoughtful preparation is key.
First of all, ensure that your Champagne is correctly stored, at a temperature between 55 and 73°F (13-23°C). When you’re ready to serve, ensure your bottle of Lallier is lightly chilled. The ideal temperature, around 50°F (10°C), allows the aromas and flavors to unfold gracefully while maintaining the vibrant effervescence.
Next, select the correct serving glass. We recommend a stemmed glass with a slightly wide bowl and tapered rim, which allows for a fuller expression of the Champagne’s complex flavors.
Minimize distractions, strong smells, and flavors as much as possible to fully appreciate the Champagne in your glass.
The Champagne Experience
Tasting Champagne is a multi-step process that includes examining the liquid’s color and the bubble size. A subtle swirl of your glass releases the aromas, and it’s worth taking the time to savor the sip for a moment in your mouth.
Color
The color of our Champagne speaks volumes, hinting at its character and history. A youthful Blanc de Blancs, like our Lallier Blanc de Blancs, typically displays a light yellow color, indicative of vibrancy and freshness, with emerald reflections, typical of a Champagne made with a majority—100% in this case—of Chardonnay grapes.
Our Lallier Rosé, on the other hand, entices with a fresh, invigorating, light pink color, indicative of the red Champagne grapes used in its creation and specifically the 7% Pinot Noir from Bouzy we use to give the wine its color and much of its fruitiness and structure.
Hold your glass above a white surface or, if none is available, up to the light, perhaps towards a window, and observe the interplay of color, clarity, and effervescence. In a young Champagne you’ll notice, depending on the glass, a lively sparkle, with a continuous stream of fine bubbles rising gracefully. As our Champagnes age, the color may deepen slightly, a subtle transformation that speaks to the gentle oxidation occurring during its aging on lees. Our Millésimé 2014, for example, boasts deep, sophisticated golden hues that reflect its long aging period.
This evolution in color is a testament to the living nature of Champagne, a reminder that each bottle holds a unique story waiting to be discovered.
Bubbles
The bubbles in your glass are more than mere carbon dioxide; they are the very essence of Champagne. The size and intensity of these bubbles—from delicate and persistent to bold and energetic—are not merely aesthetic qualities but play a crucial role in shaping your Champagne experience.
The age of a Champagne can indeed influence its effervescence. However, our wines, meticulously crafted and properly cellared, maintain a remarkable but delicate vibrancy for years, even decades. The bubbles in our aged Champagnes, like our Millésimé 2014, evolve to become finer and more integrated, creating a smoother, silkier texture on the palate.
Bubble size is a reflection of a Champagne’s maturity. As wine ages, the carbon dioxide gently diminishes, resulting in finer, more delicate bubbles that contribute to a refined mouthfeel.
The shape of a Champagne glass can also affect how bubbles form and dissipate, changing how we experience the wine’s aroma, taste, and visual appeal. Flutes preserve bubbles and focus effervescence upwards, while coupe glasses lose their fizz quickly. In contrast, white wine glasses balance bubble retention and aromatic intensity, and are the preferred choice for drinking Champagne Lallier.
Bubbles in Champagne arise from microscopic imperfections or residues on the glass surface, where carbon dioxide accumulates and forms streams of bubbles. Residues on the glass can affect this, so properly cleaning the glass with a special glass-cleaning cloth and avoiding detergents that leave residues can enhance bubble formation and ensure the perfect mousse.
Ultimately, the bubbles in your glass are an invitation to explore the unique character of each Champagne Lallier iteration. Whether you prefer the energetic dance of youthful bubbles or the elegant whisper of an aged vintage, each sip is a testament to the art of Champagne making.
On the Nose
The pleasure of Champagne extends far beyond its taste. Your olfactory senses play a crucial role in appreciating the intricate aromas that foreshadow the complex flavors within.
As you raise your glass, gently waft the delicate bouquet towards you, taking a moment to inhale the subtle nuances.
Notice the delicate fresh citrus fruits (lemon and tangerine) supported by notes of white fruits (vine peach, green apple), with a touch of brioche and light spice that complete the aromatic intensity of our Réflexion R.019. Each inhalation reveals a new layer of complexity, a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship and passion that goes into every bottle.
This aromatic journey is an essential prelude to the tasting experience, preparing your palate for the intricate dance of flavors that await. Let your nose be your guide, leading you deeper into the heart of Champagne Lallier’s unique character and charm.
Swirl
Finally: the first sip. Take in a small amount and let it linger on your palate, savoring, for example, the attack of Lallier Blanc de Noirs, rich, intense and generous, with spicy aromas, a finish dominated by power and depth—the signature of Pinot Noir from great terroirs—and length that is intense, balanced with persistent toasted notes.
As you continue to savor the Champagne, pay attention to the evolving flavors and aromas. Notice how they change and develop with each sip, revealing the true essence of the wine.
Remember, appreciating Champagne is a personal experience. There are no right or wrong answers, only the pleasure of discovering the unique nuances that each bottle of Champagne Lallier has to offer.
Tasting
Swirling, a familiar ritual in wine tasting, is the act of gently rotating the glass to introduce air into the wine. This process, called aeration, unlocks the wine’s bouquet and aromas, enriching the overall experience.
While aeration is beneficial for still wines, Champagne, with its natural effervescence, doesn’t require as much swirling. The continuous stream of bubbles acts as a built-in aerator, gently agitating the wine and releasing its delicate aromas.
However, a gentle swirl of your Lallier Champagne can still be a delightful way to awaken its nuances. As Sarah Durand, our global brand ambassador, advises, “A subtle swirl can enhance the release of aromas, allowing you to fully appreciate the complexity and depth of our Champagnes.”
Savor
Champagne is designed to be savored. It’s about partaking in the journey, from the first delicate aroma that fills your nose to the lingering notes that dance on your palate after the last sip.
The initial inhalation of Champagne’s bouquet is the prelude, setting the stage for your taste buds to embark on this exquisite experience. Each sip unfolds a story—a delicate balance of fruity, floral, sometimes spicy, brioche, or more mature aromas, that linger long after the Champagne has left your lips.
Resist the urge to rush through this sensory experience. There’s no need to hold the Champagne in your mouth. Instead, allow the first taste to seamlessly follow the initial aroma, creating a harmonious connection between your olfactory and gustatory senses.
Each element, from the delicate fizz of the bubbles to the lingering finish, contributes to the complex tapestry of flavors that defines Champagne. Take your time, explore each nuance, and allow yourself to be transported by the historic craftsmanship that has gone into creating each extraordinary bottle of Champagne Lallier.
