Charles Heidsieck NV is ~40% more expensive than Veuve NV where I am, the price is not comparable. I can usually buy Moet vintage on special for cheaper than Charles Heidsieck NV.
I donât think anyone thinks its a value at $60. MUCH scarier though is Imperial next to it for $62. 
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I was able to order a bottle of vintage Veuve rose in Vegas for a reasonable price (I want to say it was $120-180). It was very good.
Up here yellow label itâs regularly $70+ for the yellow label so I avoid it, but I donât find it to be a bad bottle. Iâd rather go for a Cremant de Loire or Domaine Carneros for less than half the price.
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I assume that Rose was at a restaurant. Domaine Carneros is much better than Veuve Yellow Label. I love all these people thinking Yellow Label is good but no tasting notes.
I greatly dislike veuve yellow label and have had it probably 5-6 times in the last 3 months. That being said the vintage offerings are pretty good.
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For sure vintage offerings are far superior but problem is so many better vintage offerings for less. Just picked up some 2012 Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésimé for $70 and would rather drink Vilmart Vintage wines for roughly the same price as La Grande Dame.
Vilmart almost certainly wonât age like LGD. 89 LGD the other day tasted like a recent release.
With a few exceptions I always prefer grand marques to growers, though.
Most (not all) growers are producing champagnes that are there just to appease as the latest fad for wine hipsters, only to fall on their face after a few years when the lack of dosage or excess use of whatever they did becomes more prominent. There is a lot to be said of the grand marques and how they really know what they are doing.
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Champagne at both growers and grand marques is made by people, and some are more talented than others. Given some recent notable disappointments from high profile big houses recently, that statement is also quite hard to take at face value, especially with good quality grapes becoming more scarce and more expensive for negociants to source.
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Trying to read replies on this new format I probably need a bottle of Champagne to track it.
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Mikko, so for you, who is in the ânot allâ grower group?
I admit I might have been a little controversial (or drunk) when I posted that comment. I meant the âgrowersâ that are popping up everywhere, usually to be only found in mystery and other offerings from online hustlers like garagiste, last bottle and such, that no-one has ever heard of before.
The point I was trying to (unsuccessfully) make was, that some people peepee on the big houses simply because itâs âtrendyâ to prefer the smaller producers. And peepeeing on a big house was why this thread was originally started.
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I appreciate your reply and candor.
But my questionâŠi am still curious. What growers do you like to drink?
Latest ones Iâve enjoyed were 2008 Pierre Paillard Grand Recolte, and I just finished my case of Robert Moncuit Reserve Perpetuelle.
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Iâve had both too. Good choices there.
Donât take the bait here, Frank.
I can be successfully accused of being 'all grower". I have no GM in my cellar. Iâd rather find a bridge and ask a sincere question.
I really donât get this Champagne, so many better options, heck I can get better English Sparkling better than this.
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No trucks backing up at that store.