I’ve always hated champagne. Probably because I’ve never splurged more than $40. To me, champagne tasted like a combo between Sprite and Bartles & James. Tonight for kicks and grins I purchased a couple good bottles and WOW! What a difference good stuff makes. Loving it! Best of all, it’s not turning me into “that guy” like the cheap stuff.
Happy NYE! 
Congratulations! Condolences! Happy New Year!
Glad to hear! Unfortunately, I’ve become somewhat jaded with Champagne (largely because the Champs I really enjoy are above $100 per 750). Damn the global economy and people with way more money than I have.
Do yourself a favor and find a bottle of Agrapart Terroirs. Can be had in the low $40’s. It’s a consistent winner and won’t break the budget. I don’t think I’ve had any other champagne at that price point that can comes close to delivering like the Terroirs.
Phill, welcome! There is plenty to like around and incrementally above that $40 mark. We found Goutorbe NV Rose this year for $40, went through probably 1/2 case. Then, Camille Saves NV Rose for $50 and Dethune NV Rose for $40. So much out there. Find the style you like (it seems you have and I probably am aligned with your style, FWIW…lower dosage, maybe too low for some), stuff that will wake up your palate.
Its a slippery slope. I pulled corks on 43 of them myself last year according to CT. And, that doesn’t include any of the domestic or cava sparklers we drank either. 73 btls total of sparkling last year for us. The best $40 btl I’ve had is Claude Genet Grand Cru BdB available from RWC.
Craig, for me it was 33, although I tasted well beyond that because of generosity of guys around me last year. I also spent 25% of my wine budget on bubbly this past year, which was basically 0% in year’s past. Really fell in love with the stuff finally this year.
If you can’t find something you really enjoy for less – much less – than $100 per bottle, you’re not looking hard enough. There is a world of great champagne out there.
Yeah I am with David. Although I have spent (way too much) money on “prestige” bottles in the last year (Dom Ruinart, Taittinger Comtes mostly), the vast majority of the champagnes I drink are $50-and-under bottles, and many at $30. Some fabulous wines in that range
It’s may not be your thing, but K&L seems to have Pol NV for $39.99, which is a steal if you like that style of wine. I’m a big champers fan, and enjoy finding new grower champagnes, but Pol always delivers in my book.
I agree on this. I missed the last bottle of Terroirs at my local store by 20 seconds, so grabbed the Agrapart 7 Crus. Bottle the other night was better than I remembered, but still not as good as the Terroirs.
For comparison, I seem to have read (from Tom Stevenson?) that NV Piper Heidsieck Brut had moved up in quality and was “under-rated”. Had a bottle of that the evening before and I was hard pressed to get through it (spoiled by Agrapart I guess). Chalky flavor, almost colloidal, with a residual sweet (or sweetener) flavor that very far from the very clean, pure Agrapart…
+1 on Agrapart, though I think I prefer the 7 Crus. And it’s cheaper!
subscribe to Brad’s Champagne Warrior. He does a great job of covering producers you might not be familiar with, and he is a tough grader. Lots if info there.
Love the Agrapart stuff including the 7 crus. PC had that for $29 at one point; bought a case and should have bought 3
I’ve had the 7 Crus three times and was completely unimpressed each time. Is it worth trying the Terroirs?
I dabble in champagne, and need to immerse myself more fully (i.e., take this recommendation with a grain or two of salt), but I’ve really enjoyed a few bottles of NV Moutard Brut ‘Grande Cuvee’ this year, for just over $30.
The Agrapart Terroirs strikes me as a little rounder, more volume, overall better balanced, firing on more palate cylinders than the Agrapart 7 Crus. Love those orchard fruits that show up. But the 7 Crus the other night was very good.
Other recent Champagnes:
2007 Agrapart Mineral Blanc de Blancs: Somewhat on the leaner side, but with crystalline purity and dry yeast aromas that might make up from the slightly harder edge to this wine. I think I preferred the NV Terroirs, but might change my mind next time around.
2007 Agrapart l’Avizoise Blanc de Blancs: A big step up here in overall complexity and nuance from the leaner Mineral, this shows red orchard fruits and yeast on the nose, on the palate a rare combination of power and nuance. Great energy and cut here.
NV Piper Heidsieck Brut: Second bottle that did not show well, with a chalky, powdery sweetener taste. None of the purity of the Agrapart Champagnes. How does somebody call these “under-rated”?
NV Franck Pascal Brut Nature Reliance: Golden color, tart orchard flavors, great cut, with aromas of red apples and pears. Touch of bitterness adds intensity to the dry finish.
In my experience, the 7 crus is a sharper, more acidic, more delineated wine than the more generous Terroirs. I like both. I am really a champagne slut; I love all styles
Agree. Glad to drink both.
By the way, Premier Cru has restocked the Agrapart Terroirs, so now they have both at a good price. And all of the Agrapart bottles I have had from there have been absolutely pristine. They are imported by Beaune Imports in Berkeley, so I guess they get restocked when the supply at the retail outlet (PC) disappears.
Lots of nice Champagne at $30-50 (and lots of sales in November/December). I’m like Neal, love to drink a variety of styles.
-Al
I just had a Launois Blanc de Blancs Quartz NV, which was terrific by day 2. It’s a lower pressure/less bubbles, so it’s not for those who like lots of fizz. It’s also low dosage, so its a bit austere, but it has terrific intensity and amazing length.