Photo by photo by Kelly Roberts

Photo by photo by Kelly Roberts

Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Champagne

Back By Natalia Wahba
images__imported__cellar__pommery-cuvee-louise-brut-champagne21_bottle.jpg

Pommery Cuvée Louise Brut Champagne, 1999, $125:

The power of Montagne de Reims Pinot Noir and the elegance of Côte de Blanc Chardonnay are married perfectly in this exquisite Champagne. Pommery uses only vineyards from the grand crus of Avize, Cramant and Ay in this blend, which is given a decadent eight years on the lees and only at the lightest dosage. It’s a very fine wine, balanced, full of character and class. The estate’s 1999 Cuvée Louise Brut is a wine endowed with layers of smoke, flowers, minerals and white fruit. There’s an understated vibrancy to this well-integrated wine: ripe, toasty, full of complex flavors and a radiant smoke-tinged finish.

Where to find it:

Café Americain in Old Sacramento (cafeamericain.info), Corti Brothers in East Sacramento (cortibros.biz) and K&L Wine Merchants (klwines.com).

What to eat with this wine:

Blini pouches with Sterling Royal Caviar and crème fraiche.

Natalia Wahba is the executive chef of Café Americain Champagne and Caviar House in Old Sacramento.