From a prestigious collaboration, that between Forget-Brimont and the Chianti-based Vallepicciola, comes the P. Vallée brand, a line of Champagnes designed to celebrate the Tuscan winery's 35th birthday. The one presented here, Champagne Brut Premier Cru, is made with grapes from the Montagne de Reims, in the heart of the appellation. 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, the grapes come from a selection of the 120 plots that make up the estate's 19 hectares. Harvested (obviously) by hand, in the cellar the grapes are processed whole cluster, then with the stalks removed, and the must is immediately sent to temperature-controlled steel vats where alcoholic fermentation takes place, followed by malolactic fermentation. The base cuvée is made from wines of a single vintage for more than half of the mass, to which reserve wines from as many as 8 different vintages are added, in different percentages. After bottling and mousse-taking, the wine matures in contact with its own yeasts for a good 30 months. Finally, after dosage, the Champagne rests for a further 6 months before dispatch. Intense yellow in colour with green veins, the bubbles are fine and persistent. The nose is complex and intense with hints of chalk, white flowers and lime, typical for Chardonnay. In the mouth it is elegant, with notes of pain brioche, butter, exotic fruits, citrus and white flowers. A wine of great finesse, it enjoys a pleasantly vinous finish. It is a Champagne that easily accompanies the whole meal. Excellent with seafood, oysters and caviar.