some people are far crazier than I am… or have a lot more time on their hands! I’ll make a trip after the Bar is over!
And Dana Point!
Be careful, Charlie, if you aren’t careful, or aren’t looking for an Alfa Romeo, you might drive past the place, as I almost did!
Roberto’s got a wall of Champagne, essentially, on the East side of the store…I purposely stayed away from it.
These are highly recommended.
I would add Guy Charlemagne for Blancs des Blancs and also Moncuit.
The base Pol Roger is nice especially the recent release.
Joe,
I’m going to do my best to stay under $60 though prices vary state by state. A baker’s dozen I would recommend off the top of my head are:
- NV Vilmart Grand Cellier (and maybe a NV Rubis on sale)
- NV Henri Billiot Reserve & Rose (bonus for a vintage)
- NV Ruinart Blanc de Blancs (bonus if you can get the NV Rose for $60)
- NV Bernard Girardin Cuvee BG
- NV Jean Laurent Blanc de Blanc, Blanc de Noirs, and Rose (you might even score a vintage for $60)
- NV Jose Dhondt Brut and Rose (bonus for a vintage)
- 2002 AR Lenoble Rose
- Drappier Grande Sendree (any vintage of this will be good; bonus if you score a Rose)
- Diebolt-Vallois Prestige BdB or the basic vintage (any year)
- Louis Roederer’s vintage wines (basic Brut, Rose, and Blanc de Blancs)
- Andre Clouet’s line of Champagne
- Gloria Ferrer’s Royal Cuvee (California sparkler)
- Roederer Estate’s L’Ermitage (California sparkler)
There are many more, but these came to mind first.
Brad is one of the definitive voices on Champagne right now.
I might listen to him.
15 more that come to mind (some have been mentioned):
- NV Pol Roger (basic Brut and Pure non-dose)
- NV Philipponnat (Brut, Rose, and non-dose)
- NV Pierre Moncuit (Grand Cru BdB and basic vintage)
- NV Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut or Blason Rose (both have really been good lately)
- 2002 Ayala BdB (not yet released in the US)
- NV Mumm Grand Cru, Mumm de Cramant, and Rose (big house, but very good quality)
- 1/2 bottles of NV Krug (I’m not a huge fan of half bottles, but this is a way to get some Krug on the list)
- Jean Milan Cuvee Symphorine (if you can find it on sale)
- Charles Heidsieck Mis en Cave Brut Reserve (any release)
- NV Jean Lallement Brut
- Henriot (NV BdB or any of their vintage wines)
- NV Paul Bara Brut and Rose
- Gosset Grande Reserve or Grande Rose
- NV Taittinger ( Rose, Prelude, or Les Folies de La Marqueterie)
- NV Bereche Brut Reserve
Literally, there are hundreds of wonderful Champagnes and sparkling wines that are under $60 and represent every style under the sun. I’d suggest that you take the suggestions given in this thread, from any critics you follow, from friends, and from your local shop and start trying a variety of wines. Most well made Champagne will cellar well and improve for a quite a while. Even a quality basic NV normally tastes better than ever at 5-10 years.
Thanks to all for you help here, more than enough suggestions to start what i hope will be a long fun road. See this is the kind of great info that will push this board to the next level!!! ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
Man, it seems like not all that long ago you could get stuff like Cuvée Nicole in the $40 to $60 range.
Heck, I can remember getting magnums of Charles Heidsieck - with major points from Bruce Sanderson - in the $100 to $125 range.
This hobby has passed me by and left me in the dust.
Thank goodness for Prosecco.
Might? Without question, I would listen to Brad.
I’ve never paid over $60 for my Cuvee Nicoles, but lately I have seen them priced as high at $90. the basic vintage was around $35 for a long time and now is often $50-$60. Heck, I recall purchasing Diebolt-Vallois Fleur de Passion for $50 just 3 years ago (now $100+), Egly Ouriet’s 95 and 96 vintages for under $50 (now approaching $100), and NV Selosse cuvees for $40-$50 ($125-$225 now) around 6 years ago. As much as pricing has changed over the last 4-5 years on the new release market (partly due to the Euro, partly due to demand, and partly due to greed in some cases), the back vintage market has gone up a lot, lot more.
My advice for anyone looking to buy grower wines, is to do it at the source. I’ve said it before and will say it again - for grower wines, it is often cheaper to fly to France, visit the producer, and buy a couple cases of wine (wine, round trip airfare, food, transportation, and hotel) than it is to drive to your local shop and buy those same wines. For the larger producers, the wines are often cheaper here in the US than they are in France so the same rule doesn’t apply. I know this statement makes some folks mad, but I’m not pointing fingers. I am simply stating a fact.
Ha ha ha.
I remember when I first learned that Donnhoff’s wines were literally [!!!] three times as expensive in the USA as at the cellar door - that really opened my eyes.
That was a good read.
didn’t see this link initially, but thanks for it Roberto! It’s a great read =)
Has anyone had the Champagnes from Francoise Bedel?
TIA,
Otto
Otto,
I’m not the biggest fan of Bedel though I know some enjoy the wines. To me, the wine quality is often variable and the wines tend to mature quickly and often have muddled flavors. I have had some nice cuvees from them, but, overall, I don’t see them as a producer to search out. They are a great family and do try their best though.
Excellent advice; will be having a Billiot later.
Tony - KILLER burger in the avatar!!
Not to risk having my post merged into the Garagiste thread, but they just sent out an email today offering NV Bollinger Rose for $67.83/btl
I must 2nd Brad Baker’s recos for Jean Laurent in particular because I love them all so, but you can count on anything he suggests to be excellent.
Just my 2 oz.,
geo
[quote=“Todd F r e n c h”]Tony - KILLER burger in the avatar!!
kinda makes you want to run out and get a burger, doesn’t it?
Joe,
Consume enough grower Champagne and you might even change your avatar.
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