Doux Champagne: Taste, Food Pairings, Best Wines to Try in 2024

Doux Champagne is the sweetest of all Champagnes. It usually contains over 50g residual sugar per liter. 

With this much sugar, it’s practically a dessert in itself! 

Even though it’s easier to make, Doux Champagne is rare to find these days, with drier ones like Brut Champagne being immensely popular.

Yet, there’s always a place for sweet sparkling wine. 

Let’s explore how Doux Champagne is made, its sweetness level, and some ideal food pairings. We’ll also introduce you to 8 beautiful bottles of Doux bubbly you can try. 

Winemaking Techniques And Characteristics of Doux Champagne

Just like all Champagnes, Doux Champagne is made using the Methode Champenoise (Champagne Method). 

The wine goes through a second fermentation process in the bottle with a mixture of sugar, wine, and yeast. The trapped carbon dioxide gives Champagne wine its characteristic sparkle. 

At the end of fermentation, the remaining yeast is removed. Finally, the finished product is topped off with wine and added sugar. 

This sweet sparkling wine uses the typical grape blend from the Champagne region - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Pinot Noir gives the wine a berry aroma and structure. 

Sweetness Level Of Doux Champagne (Compared to the Others)

Two main factors determine wine sweetness level: how tannins and acids interact with alcohol, and the actual sugar content (residual sugar.) 

Check your Champagne label to know how much residual sugar is there in your sparkling wine per liter. Look out for these terms: 

• Brut Nature or Brut Zero: 0-3g/L
• Extra Brut: 0-6g/L
• Brut: 0-12g/L
• Extra Sec: 12-20g/L
• Sec: 17-35g/L
• Demi Sec: 33-50g/L
• Doux: 50+g/L

Here’s what you should pair your sweet Champagne with.

Ideal Food Pairings With Doux Champagne

Due to its high sugar content, Demi Sec Champagne and Doux Champagne are often served as dessert wine, with a cheese platter, dessert, or as a sweet aperitif. 

As a sweet wine, Doux Champagne also pairs well with both sweet and spicy foods. 

The wine can help offset the heat in spicy dishes. Oil-based sauce dishes such as pasta and risotto also work well with this Champagne. However, avoid tomato-based sauces due to their acidity. 

You can also pair it with a citrus-based dessert or dark chocolate. These can draw out the sugar from the wine, while the wine brings out the flavor. 

Like extra dry Champagne, these sweet Champagnes are best served in a Champagne flute to preserve the bubbles. 

8 Delicious Doux Champagnes For You To Try

Doux Champagnes may be rare, but they’re a delight to experience! 

Let’s explore some delicious ones you can add to your wine collection: 

1. 1999 Andre Beaufort a Ambonnay Grand Cru Doux Rose ($297)

A popular Doux Champagne from the famous winemaker, Andre Beaufort, this rosé Champagne is a drink made for all the romantics and lovers. The soft, round, yet refined and elegant drink will please both beginners and connoisseurs. 

2. NV Doyard La Libertine Doux ($208)

Although this wine contains 65g of sugar, it tastes round rather than sweet, thanks to the minerality. Apple and pear fruit notes make this wine exciting and refreshing, while the dried fruit aroma gives it a remarkable elegance. 

3. 2000 Fleury Pere et Fils Doux Millesime ($172)

This vintage Champagne balances its sweet notes of apricots, candied fruit, and caramel perfectly with a chalky minerality and fresh acidity on the palate. 

4. 1988 Andre Beaufort Grand Cru Doux ($108)

Another prized Doux from this famed Champagne producer, this vintage Champagne will remind you of a summer’s day with its rich bouquet of pineapple and mango. 

The beautiful old gold color compliments fresh fruits and foie gras, making it perfect for filling up a Champagne flute at a regal gala. 

5. NV Georges Laval Garennes Doux ($85)

Light golden color couples with an aromatic nose of honey, this white wine has a sweet palate with a solid acidic backbone. Complex and layered, this wine may remind you of a German Riesling. 

6. NV Lallier 'Grand Dosage' Grand Cru Doux ($38) 

An affordable bottle of Doux, this Champagne has notes of brioche, apricots, and apples on the nose. On the palate, this sparkling wine is spicy, soft, and perfectly balanced. 

7. NV B. Girardin Rubato Doux ($37)

From the B. Girardin Champagne House, comes a vibrant and sweet Cuvee. A syrupy wine, it has the distinct notes of Mirabelle plums and quince. 

8. NV M. Brugnon Doux ($31)

Bright golden color with aromatic citrus fruits, this sparkling wine is ideal for beginners to Doux Champagne. 

Medium acidity paired with notes of peaches, melons, almonds, and brioche, make this wine a treat in every sense of the word. 

Sweet Never Goes Out of Style!  

No matter what the trends say, some of you may prefer sweet wine to dry white or red wine. 

While dry Champagne might be the rage now, nothing beats the comfort of a sweet Champagne! 

According to E&J Gallo, sweet wine has overtaken dry wine during the pandemic. 

If you want to find the right Champagne for your needs, you should invest in one through a world-class online wine investment company like Vinovest.