Ruinart : Second Skin R de Ruinart

Dom Ruinart’s NV Brut is an attractive, light-weight wine laced with citrus, lemon peel, and flowers, all coming together in a delicate, feminine style best suited to near-term drinking. The straight NV is rarely exciting here. This is Lot AES4AB. Anticipated maturity: 2010–2013. Importer: Moet Hennessy USA, New York, NY; tel. (212) 251-8200

This full, rich brut coats the palate with a symphony of flavors, including apple, almond, cinnamon and cream. The first non-vintage from Ruinart.

Although this has some red-berry aromas from pinot noir, the pear, white-peach and white-floral aromas are central, and they surely come from the chardonnay grape. Excellent balance of fresh fruit, animating acidity and creaminess, the mousse keeping it moving steadily across the palate through the very clean finish. A cuvée of 45% chardonnay, 45% pinot noir and 10% pinot meunier. Drink or hold.

Dom Ruinart’s NV Brut is an attractive, light-weight wine laced with citrus, lemon peel and flowers, all of which come together in a delicate, feminine style best suited to near-term drinking. The straight NV is rarely exciting here. This is Lot AES4AB.

A fine, persistent mousse; the nose struggles to open up, showing white fruit and notes of marzipan and biscuit, with the dosage standing out on the aromatic profile. The palate is round and supple; the wine is fairly crowd-pleasing, with a dosage that slightly masks the fruit; overall

The pedigree shows in the exceptionally attractive aromas, which are of toast, bread dough and yeast, with a trace of peach and honey. In the mouth, it's so rich, creamy and refined, it's hard to resist. There's a finesse that every wine should have. Defines balance, harmony and style.