# Élégance (NV)

- **Producer:** Champagne Couche
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
- **Region:** Champagne, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 12.5%
- **Average price:** €56
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** apple, lemon, peach, pear, pastry, biscuit, butter, bread, cream, hazelnut, honey, almond

## About this wine

Vincent Couche Élégance is a white sparkling wine from the Champagne AOC, produced by Champagne Couche. It is a Non-Vintage (NV) blend, typically dominated by Pinot Noir with a smaller proportion of Chardonnay, sourced from the Côte des Bar sub-region. The producer, Vincent Couche, is recognized as a pioneer in biodynamic viticulture in Champagne, with a philosophy focused on minimal intervention and expressing the purity of the terroir. This cuvée is characterized by its Brut Nature dosage, indicating a very dry profile.

## Interesting facts

- First Demeter-certified biodynamic Champagne producer.
- Pioneered biodynamic farming in Champagne starting in 1998/1999.
- Wines are made using gravity, without pumps.
- No added sugar or nutrients in winemaking.

## Food pairing

The wine's vibrant acidity cuts through the richness of seafood and creamy sauces, while its minerality complements the briny notes of oysters. The complexity and structure of the wine can stand up to richer dishes like duck and truffle, and its dry profile makes it a versatile partner for a range of cheeses.

## Wine making process

Vincent Couche Élégance is produced using biodynamic viticultural practices, with grapes fermented using indigenous yeasts. The base wine undergoes full malolactic fermentation and is aged on lees for extended periods, contributing to its complexity and texture. Winemaking is conducted with minimal intervention, utilizing gravity for transfers and avoiding pumps. The wine is typically unfiltered and unfined, and some cuvées are made with no added sulfites. The dosage is Brut Nature, meaning no sugar is added after the secondary fermentation.