Jean vesselle Brut reserve 20NV

Meet Jean Vesselle's Champagne: a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, all from France, and it's a non-vintage bottling. About the grape — Chardonnay is the world's most famous white grape, remarkably versatile, ranging from crisp and citrusy when unoaked to rich and buttery with notes of apple, pear and, when oak-aged, vanilla and toast. Pinot Noir comes along for the ride as well — a delicate, thin-skinned red grape famed for its silky texture and bright flavors of red cherry, raspberry and earthy, savory undertones. Champagne earns those fine, persistent bubbles the hard way, through a traditional second fermentation right in the bottle. France is the spiritual home of wine, the place that gave us most of the world's classic styles and the whole idea that where a wine grows shapes how it tastes. The 'Reserva' on the label usually means it's a step-up selection given a little extra aging before release. Crack it open as a celebration starter — it loves shellfish, salty nibbles and fried bites. Best served cold, ideally in a tall glass.