Côte des Bar, Aube Champagne | Pinot Noir

2019 Cédric Bouchard | VV Côte de Val Vilaine

Med Bag of Chips

Ham, cheddar cheese, fresh tomatoes, and arugula.

Ham and Cheese Sandwich

Sliced turkey, lettuce, tomato, and mustard in a whole wheat wrap.

Fit Turkey Wrap

Both lilac floral & black cherry rich, with notable structure and crowd-pleasing ease

Chill the bottle to serving temperature (approximately 55-60°F / 13-16°C). Remove from fridge 10–15 minutes before opening if overly cold. Use a waiter’s corkscrew or roller to remove the cork cleanly.

Chill and open

If the bottle is youthful and tightly structured, pour the entire bottle into a decanter and let it breathe for 20–45 minutes (use at least 30 minutes as a guideline). For more delicate early aromas, you may simply pour directly into glasses to preserve florality.

Optional decanting / breathing

Use wide-bowled Pinot Noir glasses to concentrate the aromatic profile. Hold by the stem to avoid warming the wine.

Glassware

Pour modest servings (~5 oz / 150 ml) into each glass to allow room for swirling and aroma concentration.

Pouring

Place a halved fresh black cherry on the rim or float gently in each glass to echo the wine’s black cherry character. Do not leave fruit submerged for long periods; remove after 10–15 minutes to avoid altering flavor excessively.

If using edible floral sprigs (lilac or similar), hold the sprig briefly above the glass to release fragrance—do not put the sprig directly into the wine. This heightens the perception of lilac florality without contaminating the wine.

Serve with small bites that complement structure and bright florality: soft-ripened cheeses, prosciutto, toasted sourdough, roasted mushrooms, or herb-roasted chicken. These components echo the wine’s black fruit, earthy mushroom notes and provide crowd-pleasing ease.

Tasting sequence suggestion: Start by smelling the glass to identify lilac/floral notes, then take a small sip to assess acidity and tannic structure. Note the mid-palate black cherry richness and the finish: observe how the structure supports the fruit.

If the wine is young and tannic, pair with a richer bite (roasted mushrooms or herb chicken). If it’s showing more finesse and floral lift, lighter pairings (soft cheese, prosciutto) will let the florality shine.

Recork using the original cork or a wine stopper and refrigerate upright. Consume within 2–4 days for best quality; more structure in the wine may preserve freshness toward the longer end of that range.

2024 Pinot Noir: Flâneur Wines - Estate, Willamette Valley, OR

Decanting time (optional) / Allow to breathe

Wide-bowled red wine glasses

Fresh black cherry garnish (halved)

Fresh lilac or edible floral sprigs (optional, for aroma only)

Small bread or cheese plate (optional pairing)

Soft-ripened cheese (Brie or Camembert), room temperature

Charcuterie: thinly sliced prosciutto or salami

Roasted mushrooms (cremini or chanterelle), warm

Herb-roasted chicken breast, sliced

Toasted sourdough or baguette slices

2024 Pinot Noir: Flâneur Wines-Estate, Willamette Valley, Oregon.

Medium body, black plum, brooding black pepper spice and an easy, mineral-laced finish

2023 Malbec: Colomé-Estate, Calchaquí Valley, Salta, Argentina.

Quality sourced from a co-op of growers; lush yet linear & fine; a fresh, complex fabric of flavor.

NV Champagne: EPC - Champagne des ÉPiCuriens-Brut, Montagne de Reims, France

Pure savory silk; dried raspberry, orange oil, shiitake mushroom, star anise, mint, leather

2022 Nebbiolo: La Spinona-Langhe, Piedmont, Italy.

Perfectly sweet; refreshing, with soft pomegranate flavor and delicate spice

2022 Sweet! Dornfelder: Villa Wolf by Ernst Loosen-Medium Sweet, Pflaz, Germany

Lemongrass, passionfruit, grapefruit, saffron, marzipan, smoke, petrichor... in a word: complex!

2024 Sauvignon Blanc: Domaine Gérard & Hubert Thirot-Sancerre, Loire, France.

Creamy fruit curd and green banana, with a clean finish of subtle dry spice

2024 Pinot Grigio: Hans Rottensteiner-Südtirol, Alto Adige, Italy.

Make 2024 Pinot Noir: Flâneur Wines-Estate, Willamette Valley, Oregon. Recipe in just 40m. Both lilac floral & black cherry rich, with notable structure and crowd-pleasing ease

2024 Pinot Noir: Flâneur Wines-estate, Willamette Valley, Oregon. Recipe

Descriptors

Tasting Notes

Food Pairings

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