The Champagne Nerd: tasting Louis Roederer Carte Blanche demi sec

This Louis Roederer Carte Blanche demi-sec Champagne is a white wine of great character, notably because of a residual sugar that makes it a fantastic bottle for desserts, cakes and pastries pairings.

It’s a classic assembly for a Champagne, with 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and the final touch with a 20% Pinot Meunier and epitomizes an assemblage of six vintages jealously guarded in the Roederer cellars.

But let’s take a sip of this mesmerizing nectar: the perlage is fine and not too stormy and is gently titillating on the palate.

The bouquet is delicate, all played on notes of honey, canned fruit, almonds, marzipan and confetti.

The mouth is sumptuous with balanced sweetness and a dynamic structure, smooth and creamy as it should be a sweet wine, but never mono-thematic.

Long finish, floral, with clear mineral notes to punctuate a remarkable elegance.

Cost

In a wine shop it costs about 40-45, a reasonable figure for a Champagne of great quality.

Suggest food pairings

Trifle, mimosa cake, tiramisù, but also a nice, simple cheesecake with berries.

Alfredo Ravanetti