Sparkling Wines Champagne Yoann Orban - Carte Noire

Yoann Orban’s Cuvée Carte Noire is a non-vintage brut Champagne, produced in the traditional method that defines this prestigious region. Crafted from a blend of classic Champagne grapes—most typically Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier—this sparkling wine showcases a fine balance between freshness, structure, and complexity. As a non-vintage expression, Carte Noire blends wines from multiple years to ensure a consistent house style, highlighting orchard fruit, hints of citrus, subtle brioche, and a lingering minerality derived from the region’s unique terroir. The bubbles are elegantly persistent, lending both vivacity and finesse to the palate.

Champagne occupies a privileged position in north-eastern France, benefiting from a cool continental climate with moderate sunshine and significant diurnal range. These conditions, combined with the chalky subsoil that lends exceptional drainage as well as mineral intensity, foster grapes with bright acidity and nuanced character. With a history stretching back centuries, the Champagne region’s regulations and painstaking methods—particularly the secondary fermentation in bottle—elevate wines like Cuvée Carte Noire to a hallmark of celebration and refinement.

This particular Champagne brut is an excellent partner for a wide range of dishes, thanks to its crispness and complexity. Classic pairings include oysters, scallops with a squeeze of lemon, and sushi—each drawing out the wine’s vibrant freshness. Regional recipes such as gougères (cheese puffs) or a delicate chicken in cream sauce with morels are wonderful companions. For a more casual but equally satisfying match, try salt-cured charcuterie or a rich mushroom risotto. The subtle autolytic notes also harmonise beautifully with triple-cream cheeses like Chaource.

For perfect enjoyment, serve this Champagne well-chilled but not icy, at about 6-8°C. A tulip-shaped glass, narrower than a coupe but wider than a flute, will best concentrate and release the refined aromas. Allow it a few moments in the glass to reveal its full aromatic spectrum before sipping.