Champagne’s dryness and high acidity are balanced by a light body and fine bubbles. Most Champagnes have citrus and green fruit aromas with subtle yeast and nutty hints. Champagne often exhibits different aromas and flavours, according to the sugar’s dosage – meaning its sweetness level.
The sweetness level is indicated as follows:
Brut Nature Champagne (or Zero Dosage Champagne): This wine contains little (up to 3g per litre) or no sugar and is very dry.
Extra Brut Champagne: This dry wine is slightly sweeter with up to 6g of sugar per litre.
Brut Champagne: Considered the most popular Champagne, brut has up to 12g of sugar per litre and is a fairly dry wine.
Extra Sec Champagne: A sweeter Champagne than brut, extra sec wines have 12-17g of sugar per litre.
Sec Champagne: This Champagne contains 17-32g of sugar per litre and is a much sweeter dry wine.
Demi-Sec Champagne: Containing 32-50g of sugar per litre, demi-sec is one of the sweeter wines.
Doux Champagne: Containing 50g of sugar or more per litre, this is the sweetest Champagne.