Veuve Clicquot Extra Brut Extra Old Champagne

An elegant, mineral-driven version, with the delicate bead carrying subtle flavors of black currant, mandarin orange peel, smoke and ground ginger, well-meshed to the firm, focusing frame of acidity. Offers a lithe, lingering finish. (AN)

We had this Champagne with some mushroom pate that Cinnamon made out of hen of the woods and crimi’s from a local grower at the Menlo Park farmers market on toasts made out of the Woodside Bakery’s walnut bread. While the wine was clean, refreshing and bright the whole time, it also magically had vinous depth and complexity that on rarely encounters in current release Champagne. The subtle way that this power and depth presents itself is a testament to the blending mastery of Dominique Demarville, a cellar master at the top of his game. The savory, earthy flavors in the pate brought out the same in the wine, but without the food I might have missed them completely.