# Blue Top Brut (NV)

- **Producer:** Heidsieck & Co Monopole
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier
- **Region:** Champagne, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.0%
- **Average price:** €45
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 6–8 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** red cherry, pear, apple, lemon, peach, butter, toasted bread, biscuit, brioche, honey, dried apricot, almond

## About this wine

Heidsieck & Co Monopole Blue Top is a non-vintage Champagne from one of the oldest Champagne houses, established in 1785. The producer, Heidsieck & Co Monopole, has a historical connection to European royalty. The wine originates from the Champagne AOC in France, a region renowned for its sparkling wines. The Blue Top is characterized by its consistent house style, achieved through blending wines from multiple vintages, making it an accessible representation of classic Champagne.

## Interesting facts

- One of the oldest Champagne houses, founded in 1785.
- Supplied Champagne to European royal houses and the Russian Tsar.
- Over 2,400 bottles were salvaged from a 1916 shipwreck.
- Now part of the Vranken Pommery Monopole group.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium body and bright acidity cut through richer elements like butter and cream, while its subtle fruitiness complements the natural sweetness of seafood. The effervescence helps cleanse the palate, making it a versatile companion for a range of dishes.

## Wine making process

Heidsieck & Co Monopole Blue Top is produced using the traditional method of Champagne production. As a non-vintage wine, it is a blend of reserve wines from multiple years, designed to achieve a consistent house style. The grapes undergo primary fermentation, typically in stainless steel, followed by secondary fermentation in the bottle to create effervescence. The wine is then aged for a minimum of three years in chalk cellars, with an additional six months post-disgorging, to develop its complex character.