What should you check when tasting Champagne?

• A. Only color
• B. Bubble size, clarity, color, and look for aromas like citrus and toast.
• C. Only alcohol content
• D. Only sweetness

Answer: (B)

When tasting Champagne, you form a quick, integrated impression from how it looks, smells, and feels on the palate. The best approach is to check bubble size, clarity, color, and look for aromas like citrus and toast. Fine, persistent bubbles indicate a lively mousse and good texture, while the overall clarity shows the wine is cleanly carbonated and well handled. Color helps you gauge the grape blend, age, and dosage, giving clues about style and maturity. Aromas such as citrus point to freshness and fruit character, while toasty notes reveal lees aging and complexity. Together, these visual and aromatic cues give you a fuller understanding of the Champagne than focusing on any single attribute. Other options are too narrow: color alone misses aroma and mousse texture, alcohol content isn’t something you evaluate so directly in tasting, and sweetness is just one facet that doesn’t capture the full sensory profile.