The 2004 LeLarge-Pugeot Premier Cru Quintessence Champagne comes from Vrigny in France’s Champagne district. It’s made by a family that settled there in the 1700’s. It’s an ideal 12% alcohol and is an RM Champagne, not an NM example. The Recoltant-Manipulant houses make their own, while large NM houses buy a lot of their product and sell it under their name.

I snow-chilled this outstanding Champagne to serve prior to dinner. It won 19 points on the Dionysian 20-point scale. “A Gold Medal wine!” Tiny bubbles bring up the fresh toast and floral notes. It dances on your tongue. Why serve Dom  Perignon when you can savor LeLarge-Pugeot?  Some hard-boiled egg yoke on cream cheese over a wheat cracker topped with a bit of caviar and a piece of chive, make it a celebration for the end of two full weeks of freezing weather.

This LeLarge-Pugeot can change any moment into a special event. If you don’t have any, you should. In vino veritas.