A vivacious Champagne, showing the balance to recommend this as an aperitif but the focus to pair with food. Well-cut acidity is integrated with the refined mousse and notes of ripe black cherry and blackberry paste, Meyer lemon peel, biscuit and white blossoms. The finish is lingering and mineral-driven. Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Nicolas Chiquet farms 23 hectares in the Valle de la Marne in the villages of Ay, Dizy, Hautvillers and Mareuil-sur-Ay. All of the fruit (including that which is used in the non-vintage cuvee) comes from premier and grand cru grapes. Nicolas does not employ any oak aging at Gaston Chiquet; he believes that concentration, fruit maturity and malolactic fermentation impart enough body and texture to make aging in barrel unnecessary.