Champagne in double magnums · Mineral

The largest format matures most slowly

In Champagne the three-litre bottle is called a jeroboam; double magnum is the Bordeaux term. It is the largest format in which the second fermentation must still take place in the same bottle. Maturation is correspondingly slow, the mousse especially fine, and the wine gains depth while its freshness remains unbroken. One bottle yields around twenty-four glasses.

The selection at Living Wines comes from growers who work organically or biodynamically. Pertois-Lebrun in the Côte des Blancs stands for precise Chardonnay; the Vallée de la Marne adds the fruity depth of Pinot Meunier. A large ice bucket is essential, and then, well chilled, the wine will carry through an entire feast.