NV Champagne Ultra D, Aged 5 Years, Devaux

• Style: Dry, refined Champagne blend
• Taste: Hazelnut and spice aromas, ripe pear, crisp length
• Food: Shellfish, white fish, sushi, hard cheese, salads
• Occasion: Aperitif, celebration, gifting, date night
• Serve: Chilled, savour slowly

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Five years on its lees before disgorgement deliver textural richness and mousse finesse that younger sparklers cannot match. The pale gold hue and tiny, persistent bubbles signal serious winemaking. Ripe pear and hazelnuts move across the palate with dryness (just 2g/L dosage) that feels refreshing rather than austere, backed by structural weight from old vines and careful blending. A wine to savour slowly, revealing generous depth and long crisp length.

The Winery — Devaux

Founded in 1846 and now part of the Union Auboise in the Côte des Bar, Devaux sources from 50 hectares of sustainably farmed parcels averaging 30 years old. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir from continental limestone slopes closer to Burgundy than Épernay—where it gains richness and depth—and 40% Chardonnay from chalky soils, including fruit from Montgueux, bringing liveliness and mineral finesse. Fermentation splits between stainless steel and 300-litre barrels, followed by long slow maturation that includes 40% reserve wines from soleras dating back to the 1990s. Chef de Cave Michel Parisot, in post since 1999, was named Sparkling Winemaker of the Year at the 2020 International Wine Challenge—a recognition that reflects his pioneering approach and the care invested in every disgorgement.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This Champagne rewards slow sipping whether at the aperitif table or alongside oysters and seafood. Its dry profile and mineral backbone make it equally at home with hard and aged cheese, fresh salads, white fish, sushi and raw fish. The structural weight that comes from old vines and careful blending makes Ultra D a superb choice for celebration dinners, intimate date nights, and gifting. If you're drawn to the structure and personality that ripe Pinot Noir brings to sparkling wine, explore how versatile the grape proves across different regions and styles—this wine demonstrates why the Côte des Bar has become Champagne's richest source of serious sparkling complexity.