An iconic cuvée from Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, expressing quintessential House style, Palmes d’Or Brut is only revealed through the prism of the vintage, and only when an exceptional harvest year comes along to enhance its primary qualities. A timeless wine instilling extreme emotion, its texture and flavours are of great finesse. In the wake of the 2008 vintage, which was one of the coolest of the last 14 years, the 2009 season launched with a hard winter scarred by severe frosts. The water deficit of previous months was tempered by a mild April. In spring, the soils quenched their thirst on heavy rains amid frequent storms. Summer will be remembered for a very sunny, dry and hot August, creating the ideal environment for the grapes to ripen to perfection. The harvest in mid-September enjoyed excellent conditions. The exceptional level of quality can be attributed to the Grand Cru-classified chalk terroirs which played a crucial role as a natural regulator, offering refuge and balance in the face of a fluctuating climate. An equal part-blend of two iconic Champagne grape varieties, Palmes d’Or Brut is the unique alliance of the most expressive grapes from a single harvest year and the mastery of Chief Winemaker Guillaume Roffiaen. For this high-ranking head-to-head, the Grand Crus from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims enter the ring. Selected for their freshness, elegant, gossamer-light, distinguished Chardonnays from Avize, Oger, Cramant and Mesnil-sur-Oger vie with fleshy, broad-shouldered Pinot Noir from Ambonnay, Tours-sur-Marne, Aÿ-Champagne, Verzy and Verzenay. For longer than a decade, a silent confrontation between grape variety and birthplace has been at play. In this subtle battle, where each grape seeks to shape its strength and character, the diplomatic Chardonnay from the south of the Appellation enters the field. Elegant and refined, Chardonnay from Montgueux is the obvious mediator in this discord. Bringing greater soul to this prestige cuvée, its unusual exotic fruit flavours temper acidity and impart harmony and balance to the heart of this dual. Food pairing: with its complex structure and supreme finesse, this fine wine from Champagne is a heavenly match to refined dishes.Fish: turbot, sea bass, scallops. Meat: white meats or foie gras. Serving temperature: as an apéritif at 7-8°C, with food at 10-12° C. Taste: Generous offering intense, appealing spicy notes, together with fig, hazelnut and fresh nuts. Savoury flavours of vine peach and apricot. A renewed wave of freshness and saline character on the finish. Appearance: Pale gold, with lively, delicate bubbles forming an exquisite ribbon in the glass. Aroma: Notes of ripe white fruit and a mineral edge. As the wine opens in the glass, creamy, pastry aromas, reminiscent of spring honey. Grape variety: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay