CHAMPALOU Vouvray Brut, Didier Champalou NV Grape Varieties 100% Chenin Blanc Awards and Press: Champalou Vouvray Brut NV: Current release. The nose here is quite perfumed, lightly stony, with a very gentle character quite typical of the domaine. A nice palate, quite full in the mouth, with lots of foaming mousse. A good clean style, with a powerful acid backbone. There is plenty of appealing character here. From a 2010 Champalou update. 15.5-16+/20 (February 2010) Food Matching Note: This style of Vouvray would be a suitable accompaniment to hors d'oeuvres, such as charcuteries and fish. Tasting Note: Pale straw in colour with extremely elegant bubbles and a fine mousse. The palate is fine and elegant with well balanced acidity and a crisp dry finish. Vinification Note: Chenin Blanc makes an excellent base wine for sparkling as it has good acidity. The base wine is fermented to dryness in stainless steel tanks, before blending and the addition of a little extra yeast and enough sugar for this yeast to turn into alcohol and carbon dioxide, which is trapped inside the bottle creating the sparkle. Some older, 'reserve' wines are added at the blending stage to a create a wine of superior complexity and consistent style regardless of the year in which it is bottled. Find this wine at www.winestore.co.uk Price: £16.13 (Including VAT at 20%)