Champagne Moët & Chandon, Impérial, Brut

Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating and, at times, infuriating wine grape in the world. However, when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape, which grows in small, tight bunches, performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone-based subsoils. It is more susceptible than other varieties to overcropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive, and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of Burgundy's Côte d'Or.

In 1668, the monk Dom Pérignon is credited with discovering the traditional method of making sparkling wine - a technique now used worldwide. Yet it is only in Champagne, France’s most northerly wine region, that this method produces wines of such finesse and prestige. Today, Champagne is home to over 15,000 growers and 290 Champagne houses. The region’s cool climate often necessitates a blend of grape varieties: Chardonnay brings fruit and elegance, while Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier provide body and backbone.