since new years is coming up. whats the best value champagne? please not the cheapest but the best for the money? john
Can't go wrong with Moet Chandon White Star for around $30. Generally, avoid the "bulk charmat" stuff (fermented in a tank as opposed to fermented in the bottle), typically the under $10 a bottle. Although, this type is OK for spraying on your friends a la Dan Gurney or for mixing Mimosas the next morning. Armstrong Ridge is, I think, the best of the cheap stuff. Domain St Michelle is pretty good for under $15 a bottle. The high-end stuff... well, after 60 minutes, it's just...(let's say, body temperature and under pressure). KevFla
Veuve Cliqot (I can't spell French just look for the orange label) is about the same ($30) and is very good
Yes, the French make the best tasting and doesn't give you a headache afterward like the other crap that is out there. Moet White Star as mentioned above is a good bargain bottle. Dom is slightly finer. Perrier Jouet is another fine bottle. For shaking and spraying people, use the Cooks, Totts stuff. You can get a 6-pack for a few dollars.
Nicholas Feuillatte rose is best bang for buck in my opinion. Like $30-35. White Star is good but it's played out.
Price has little reflection on how much you will appreciate a wine (sparkling or still). Some inexpensive wines are crap, some are fantastic - the same is true with the other end of the price spectrum. Your best bet is to partake in some wine tastings (in my neck of the woods, there is a wine seller/distributer that has tastings with over 1000 different wines). As to Champagne...I would strongly recommend you try some Domain Carneros Brut (from California) that should run less than $30/bottle.
Any french in the range of $15 to $30. Note I hate this stuff Never forget Champagne is made from rotten wine. I just stick to wine or the good old stand by "Beer"
Does anyone know who makes the "Ritz-Carlton" champagne? I was given a bottle by one of the guys at the Ritz here. I really liked it. They would not tell me who made it just that it was a leading house.
The only champagne I can drink and enjoy is Bollinger. The entry level stuff (forget the £80 a bottle stuff, it's not worth the extra) comes in at £30 a bottle in the UK unless you buy wholesale.
Champagne ONLY comes from the region Champagne/France! Anything else is a joke/fake and not allowed to be called/named champagne!
I was told this was Veuve Clicquot once. And I agree that the Veuve is the best out there. Their Grand Dame is by far my fav high end. And if you can find it, try the Deme Sec!!!!
Whys that? Champagne may be great by French now, but I'm sure we'll see other regions make just as good stuff as Champagne the way that its invaded the wine industry.
Anything from anywhere other than Champagne, France is sparkling wine, and there are some GREAT Napa Valley white sparklings. As far as headaches: Big Bubbles == Headache, Small Bubbles == No headache (unless you drink bottles of it by yourself and are hung over). All champagnes are made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes. For a Sparkling Wine, try any of the mid-range Napa Valley wines, I find them less bitter than French Champagne. For Champagne, try Taittinger Brut or Veuve Clicquot (both are under $60 depending on the year). They are common party favorites and both have a great fruit taste. If it is for a big party, Id buy a case of the Taittinger. That way everyone will have a bottle to open (the best part, and generally what we do every year) and youwill have plenty of warm de-fizzed Champagne left for Mimosas in the morning! The Taittinger runs under $35 a bottle. Also, know that "Extra Dry" is a crock. It was invented for the English and simply has more sugar added. Brut is dryer than EXTRA Dry. Also, win some money. Make a wager with everyone (one at a time if you hope to win more than once) on how many twists it takes to open the cage on the bottle. Six Half Turns is the answer (this fails RARELY because there is only one maker of the machine that cages the bottles, so its consistent). And make sure to twist the BOTTLE, not the cork. Hope this helped. Good luck! PS: Why not pick up a Nebuchadnezzar of some Louis Roeder? ;oP PSS: Another idea would be to just pick up a split (small 200ml bottle) for each person attending. This is cool and fun for everyone. Want a bit more, get fillettes instead (375ml).
There are, but they arent (and cannot legally be called) champagne. They are sparkling wines. In fact, all bottles claiming to be champagne have a seal on them from the AOC. If it lacks that (as well as its degree of sweetness, town of origin, name of importer, etc), its not champagne. I forgot to add on the last post, I prefer Sec champagnes. Demi Sec is too sweet, and Extra Brut is too dry. For reference From dryest to sweetest: Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi Sec.
Technically it's true that Champagne must come from the Champagne region to be called Champagne. However, California does make some good sparkling wines. The Schramsberg Vineyards in Napa makes a great sparkling wine that they do call Champagne. The 1992 Schramsberg beat Veuve Cliquot, Grand Dame, Dom Perignon and Cristal in a blind tasting. BTW the judges were French.
My favorite is Bollinger RD. I also really like sparkling wines from Franciacorta Italy (Bellavista Saten blows me away), but these are often hard to find. Ferrari Sparkling Perle vintage (current available is 2002, I think) is 30ish a bottle and blows away anything French in that price range
I like Salon, Ace and Krug. None of these are cheap, but they are very good. For more of an everyday wine I like Ruinart, esp. the brut rose.
Part of the problem is a Burger King/MacDonalds (or Ferrari/Lambo) issue--different taste profiles appeal to different people. I have never had a Krug that I loved, but it is undeniably excellent stuff (well made, good grapes, etc.). Part of the issue is what is available where you live, and part of the issue is your particular palette. Each Champagne house has a style (as do most sparkling wine producers)--for each of their bottlings, they try to maintain a consistent taste (kind of like Chivas--blended for a consistent year to year taste). The goal is to find those that you like.
