Champagne Extra Brut Cuvée 739 NV 75cl

The wood has worked some magic here, adding a savory edge to otherwise sweetly fragrant fruits, dried flowers, almonds and peachy chardonnay fruits. The palate, meanwhile, has plenty of flavoursome peach and lemon-citrus flavors. It's smoothly textured and builds through all savory on the finish. Drink now. Based on the 2011 harvest with 31% reserve wine: 57% chardonnay, 21% pinot noir and 22% pinot meunier fermented and aged in foudres and unfiltered with a low (3.5g/litre) dosage.

Jacquesson's soon to be released Cuvée 739 Extra-Brut is is based on the 2011 vintage and 31% Reserve wines, all from Grand and Premier Cru sites in the Côte des Blancs and Vallée de la Marne. The 739 is an assemblage of 57% Chardonnay, 21% Pinot Noir and 22% Meunier, all fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in foudres. The unfiltered wine was disgorged in July 2014 with a dosage of 3.5 grams per liter. Medium-intense in its golden color, the Cuvée 739 shows a clear, deep, rich and complex nose of ripe white fruits, bread, honey wax, and spicy aromas intermixed with refreshing chalk and lemon flavors in the background. Full-bodied, lovely, pure and fresh on the palate, with nutty flavors and a stunningly smooth fruit, this is a full-flavored, wide open yet very delicate Champagne with a very fine and well structured mineral finish. This is not a big wine perhaps (although it starts a little bit as such), but a Champagne full of elegance and finesse. It's a great aperitif and food partner for lighter dishes. And a lovely midnight drink anyway.