This is a stunning bubbly in a sexy red faux-crocodile skin sheath. Pale gold in colour, it offers a toasty, yeasty nose with apple and pear notes; on the palate it’s dry, nutty and elegant with citrus acidity giving it great length. A joy to drink.


Food match: grilled lobster; smoked salmon soufflé

Piper-Heidsieck Brut Bodyguard, Champagne, France, $54.95. LCBO #253807

Post City Magazines’ wine columnist, Tony Aspler, has written 14 books on wine and food. Tony also created the Ontario Wine Awards and has been inducted into the New York Media Wine Writers’ Hall of Fame. He can be heard on 680News.