Help me pick a Champagne for tonight...

Here is the Champer list at Melisse. It says it is from January 2009, so it may not be so current, but I imagine quite of few of these are still on the list. I’ve deleted a few that are out of our price range. I love the Paul Bara Rose, but the price here is rather high. What would you choose?

5639 Bernard Bremont, Grand Cru, Brut, Ambonnay 1996 185
5603 Deutz, Brut Classic, Ay MV 105
5614 Duval-Leroy, Cotes de Blancs, Vertus MV 79
5604 Gosset, Grand Réserve, Aÿ MV 145
5699 Guy Charlemagne, Grand Cru, Blanc de Blancs, Les Mesnils MV 111
5723 H. Billiot Fils, Grand Cru, Ambonnay 1999 139
5718 J. Lassalle, "Préférence, Brut, Chigny-Les-Roses MV 83
5656 Louis Roederer, Brut Premier, Reims 2002 139
5721 Michel Turgy, Blanc de Blancs, Grand Cru, Les Mesnil MV 99
5249 Paul Bara, Brut, Grand Rosé, Reims MV 185
5648 Pol Roger, Épernay MV 117
5619 Bruno Paillard, “Première Cuvée”, Rosé, Reims MV 155
5607 Lallier, Premier Cru, Brut, Rose, Aÿ MV 135
5615 Veuve Founey et Fils, Rose, Brut, Vertus MV 101

Looks like the prices are all pretty steep to me. Pretty much double retail minimum. I’ve had recent good experiences with Lassalle so I would probably give that one a whirl. And of course the 99 Billiot is tempting. [wink.gif]

I would not order any of those as a matter of principle, given (1) the markup and (2) the obnoxious use of “MV” instead of “NV” as if all this stuff is like Krug Grande Cuvee. If forced, the Duval-Leroy seems the most painless, but do they have any sparkling Vouvray or some other acceptable substitute?

Hey, isn’t Founey aka Fourney the one Abood posted on a few days ago? Markup seems less painful on that one too.

I don’t know why but it annoys me too that they put “MV”

I second the Lassalle.

I’m with Cris on the 99 Billiot.

Any thoughts on the Bremont? I don’t have any experience with this producer. I know Ray T. likes them, and 1996 of course should work in its favor.

Poppy,

I’ve only had the NV Cuvee Prestige which I like a lot especially for the price. Never had the '96 nor any other vintage from Bremont so I’d rather not give an opinion on that specific champagne.

I do not know Bremont, but did someone say vintage Billiot? [thumbs-up.gif]

I’d probably go Billiot too.

Cheers,
-Robert

Billiot seems like the safest bet. I like that Paillard Rose too though.

So do they still have any Clos des Goisses on the list?

Is that a Chris Cottrell sighting?

  • 1 for Billiot.

But, if in fact there is a misprint on the winelist, and that Roederer is the 2002 Brut, (not NV Brut Premier) I would be all over that.

I like the Billiot unless you really want Rose. Then Bruno Paillard, “Première Cuvée”, Rosé.

I don’t like anything on that list for the price, but if you are stuck with it, my choices in order would be:

  • 99 Billiot
  • 02 Roederer
  • NV Gosset Grande Reserve