FIVE CHAMPAGNES UNDER £30
Champagne André Clouet Grand Cru Grande Réserve Brut
Made exclusively from Pinot Noir from 40-year-old prime time vines, this magnificent fizzer is full of prune, red apple and wild honey flavours with a seasoning of funk which should appeal to both Champagne and fine wine drinkers. Considering the quality, this bottle should be twice the price!
Champagne Deutz Brut Classic
Made a stone’s throw from Bollinger in the town of Ay, Deutz uses all three main Champagne grape varieties including some of the best Pinot Noir in the region for their Brut Classic. Deutz are an unsung hero of value and style, this bottle offers incredible quality without the hefty price tag.
Champagne Didier Chopin Brut
Made by Didier Chopin and wife Karine, who champion soft and biscuit-y styles of bubbles using a high proportion of Pinot Meunier in their blends. If you like your Champagnes toasty, then stock up when this is on promotion and it won’t disappoint.
Champagne Le Mesnil Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs
This is a pure expression of Chardonnay, sourced from the 100% Grand Cru vineyards in chalkiest soils in the region (chalk is the best) above the sleepy town of Mesnil. This fizzer is dangerously delicious, ridiculously refreshing and won’t break the bank.
Champagne Lanson, Black Label
The perfect start to any occasion, and one of the most readily available. This is the second most drunk Champagne in the UK, with good reason! It offers amazing quality and is very fairly priced. Whether at home or celebrating, this fresh, lemony Champagne fits the bill.
FIVE CHAMPAGNES OVER £30
Bollinger, Grand Année 2007
Seems very fitting that James Bond’s favourite fizz arrived in (2)007! This is Bollinger’s celebration of a singular year. Pinot Noir dominant and oaked, after spending time in Bollinger’s famous oak barrels, mean this Royal fizzer is full of creamy, red apple and spiced flavours.
Champagne Laurent Perrier, La Cuvée
Laurent Perrier are titans of quality considering they are the fourth largest producer. I’m a huge fan of all their range but the new launch of their flagship Brut is turning heads, and emptying glasses. With additional Chardonnay and extended ageing in the blend, La Cuveé gives you amazing flavour and incredible quality in every foaming sip.
Champagne André Clouet Jour de 1911
This is a multi-vintage expression of Clouet’s top wines and is unbelievably good. Some of the blend is kept in a solera system, a method of fractional blending to gain complexity and flavour, similar to how the Andalusians make sherry. Only 1911 bottles are ever produced of this exceptional champagne, and it could sell for four times the price. This fizzer is both fruity, funky and rich.. Buy some before I do!
AR Lenoble Premier Cru Blanc de Noirs 2009
Run by a brother and sister duo who make creative and expressive styles of champers. This number is made exclusively from Pinot Noir in the Premier Cru town of Bisseuil and 28% of the blend has been in oak, which impacts flavours of mocha and vanilla to the finished champagne.
Billecart-Salmon, Brut Rosé
Billecarte are a fraction of the size of many other famous Champagne houses, but what they lack in size, they deliver on quality and value. Their iconic Rose is ludicrously tasty; But be warned: it's so moreish, once you pop you can’t stop!
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