SINGLE VARIETY/BLENDED Comparative Tasting Experience

A champagne set featuring both single-variety and blended champagnes offers a unique opportunity to explore the distinct characteristics of each grape and how they evolve when combined. This tasting experience allows wine enthusiasts to appreciate the individuality of each variety while understanding the artistry behind blending.

Single-Variety Champagne - FABRICE BERTEMES La Tourniolle (Rose) - 100% Pinot Noir

Single-variety champagnes showcase the pure expression of each grape, highlighting its unique profile without the influence of other varieties. Pinot Noir (Blanc de Noirs) – grape provides structure, depth, and power with red fruit aromas, richness, and complexity, making it a bold and expressive choice.

Blended Champagne - JOSEPH DESRUETS Signature - 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 20% Meunier

Blending is a signature of Champagne craftsmanship, combining different grape varieties to achieve balance, complexity, and harmony. A traditional Brut Champagne typically includes:

• Chardonnay for freshness and elegance
• Pinot Noir for structure and depth
• Pinot Meunier for fruitiness and roundness

When tasting a blended champagne, one can compare how each grape’s attributes contribute to the final composition, enhancing body, depth, and complexity.

Tasting Approach

• Start with the single-variety champagnes to isolate and understand each grape’s defining characteristics.
• Follow with the blended champagne to recognize how these elements interact and complement each other.
• Compare the differences: Does the blend enhance balance? Does a single variety offer a purer expression?

This tasting journey not only deepens appreciation for Champagne but also highlights the mastery behind blending, where the sum is often greater than its parts.