Moet Chandon Nectar Imperial Champagne

Nectar Impérial is Moët & Chandon's demi-sec champagne, which means it is deliberately sweeter than the Brut style most people associate with the region. It is made in Champagne, France, at 12% ABV, from the region's classic trio of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Demi-sec champagnes typically carry noticeably more dosage (the sugar added at the final stage of production) than Brut, so expect a soft, rounded palate with ripe tropical fruit and honeyed notes rather than a crisp, bone-dry attack. The fine bubbles keep the sweetness lifted, and the finish tends to be gentle and smooth rather than sharp. There is no oak-driven character to look for here. The appeal lies in fruit and texture, and tannin is essentially absent in a sparkling white of this kind. That sweetness is the main thing to plan around at the table. A demi-sec stands up to dishes that would overwhelm a Brut: fruit-based desserts such as poached pears, baked apples, peach tarts or a pineapple upside-down cake, where the wine needs to be at least as sweet as the food to avoid tasting thin. It is also a useful partner for spicy cooking, because the residual sugar and the cold, fizzy texture soften chili heat in Thai, Sichuan or Indian dishes. Salty, rich flavors work too: foie gras, blue cheese and cured ham are classic matches for a sweeter sparkling wine. Serve it well chilled, around 6 to 8°C (43 to 46°F), which keeps the sweetness fresh instead of cloying. A couple of hours in the refrigerator or about 20 minutes in an ice bucket filled with half ice and half water will get it there. Decanting is not appropriate for a sparkling wine, since it would dissipate the mousse. Pour it straight from the bottle into a tulip-shaped glass or a white wine glass with a modest bowl, which concentrates the aromatics while retaining the bubbles better than a wide, shallow coupe. This is a bottle to drink now rather than lay down. Non-vintage champagne of this style is released ready to enjoy, and the fruit and honeyed notes are at their most appealing while fresh. Keep it upright or on its side in a cool, dark place away from temperature swings, and open it within a reasonable time of purchase.