Nicolas Feuillatte is a champagne house that I always admired from a far but never pulled away far enough from Madame Clicquot or my favorite bubbly of all time Moët Hennessy’s Dom Pérignon to really give it a try. Long known for their signature Brut portfolio, Feuillatte also produces the prestigious Palmes d’Or.

French for golden palm, it shares the same name as the highest prize awarded to competing films at the Cannes Film. Aged for eight years, this vintage is made from fifty percent pinot noir and fifty percent chardonnay grapes.

At first glance this is a really unique bottle that will sure to draw some impulse purchases. Upon pouring, the color I would describe as a pale but seductive yellow. I got notes of fruit, notably pear, on the nose.

The taste though in my opinion was underwhelming. While this champagne was very rich and dense, the flavor profile lacked any lasting defining characteristics that stuck with me. All I got was a full-bodied smack of different fruit flavors that lacked that crisp bite I look forward to when popping a premium champagne. Disappointing.

Nevertheless if you happen to come across a Palmes d’Or, I would suggest pairing it with a rich filling entrée since this champagne is so deep.