Jacques Lorent, Brut, Champagne, France, 2013

This vintage Champagne comes from a cooperative in a small village outside of Epernay; it is a wonderfully rich vintage Champagne under $50 from Jacques Lorent with honeyed biscuit aromatics that meld into candied ginger and beeswax notes. An elegant, though perhaps not long-lasting, mousse introduces a ripe and complex palate that weaves that elegance with a rich depth of fruit. Lemon curd, chamomile, and brioche notes bring this tremendous value to its climax.