N°7 MEUNIER

“ I’ve been familiar with Billecart-Salmon champagnes since I was a child, thanks to my father. Without being conscious of it, I took my first steps with this great champagne house. Then, in 2019, I tasted my first Elisabeth Salmon vintage, the 1998 at it happens, at Les Troisgros with Christian Vermorel — an unforgettable treat. A very collector’s item, Rendez-Vous No. 7 opens up in two stages: a wonderfully vivacious backbone and a pure brilliance, sustained on delicate, creamy bubbles, accompanied by sophisticated indulgence. Then come sharper zesty notes, yielding to the sweetness of nectarine and peach, which lingers delightfully on the palate, leading to an almost salty finish. As it benefits from decanting, this cuvée would meet its ideal match in a slow-roasted jammy oxheart tomato, accompanied by a sorbet of Black Krim, sour cream and wild strawberries, all enhanced by a cherry tomato liquor with aged wine vinegar and basil. The finesse of the flavour would resonate with the sorbet and the strawberries, while the generous texture would marry perfectly with the jammy tomato flesh and its effervescence would further enhance its aromatic freshness, adding a rare length to the dish. This cuvée brings summer cooking with a good friend to mind and a holiday rental in Provence. ”