"Reasonably" priced champagne quest

WINE TALK
21

Is it? I know they call it a rosado but neither the flavor nor the color really comport with traditional understanding of rose. I don’t conceive of this wine as being rose or rosado; it’s a very small percentage of monastrell in the blend.

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22

I really like the Diebolt-Vallois wines at this price point. The regular Brut (Tradition) comes in around $35 out here on the west coast. The Blanc de Blanc and Rose are a little more but ought to scrape the $40 price limit.

Thanks,

Zachary

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23

By aging any champagne two to three or more years, you’ll increase the complexity and experienced quality significantly.

It is enough to just store the bottles at room temperature (below 26 degrees Celsius - doesn’t have to be perfect conditions) and dark. The bottles can lay down or stand up, it doesn’t matter for just a few years.

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24

I was about to recommend Agrapart 7 Crus, but see that it’s no longer in the $40s, more like $60.

25

If you can go up to c.45 you could try the deutz brut. Always delivers for my palate.

26

I like both the Raventos de Nitm (very pale rosado) and the BdB. There is also a very good BdN but it’s considerably more expensive.

I don’t usually care for Cremant de Bourgogne, but the Bruno Dangin is delightful (it’s just outside Aube).

The Champagne that I have liked the most for under $40 recently is the Grongnet BdB.

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27

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I’ll check these all out to see what I can find. In general, this was one of the most enjoyable ‘experiments’ I’ve done with wine. I got to drink some great sparkling wines on an almost nightly basis…I generally save champagne for weekends or more often, gatherings with friends, but this reminded me how much I enjoy it as an “everyday” wine as well. Which is why it’s nice to find a few that are reasonably priced!

Outside of champagne, I also recommend many of the wines from the Kermit Lynch portfolio - besides the Boxler, Meyer-Fonne Cremant D’Alsace, Champalou Vouvray Brut, Riofavara Spumante, and Royal Seyssel are all reasonably priced wines worth checking out.

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28

OK, here are some CT notes from “reasonably priced” Champagnes that we appear to have enjoyed:

Posted from CellarTracker

Posted from CellarTracker

Posted from CellarTracker

  • NV Boizel Champagne Brut Réserve - France, Champagne (7/22/2020)
    This is great as a house pour Champagne. Kills anything else in the <$30 range (MSRP might be higher?). Got a 6 pack on closeout and am really pleased. Nice toasty nose. Great acidity on the palate with a touch of chalky limestone. Fruit is apple and pear. Nice finish if a tad short. Super happy with this wine, especially at the price we paid ($24 all in).

Posted from CellarTracker

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29

Totally agree with the Laherte recommendations! I really like NV Christophe Mignon Pur Meunier Brut Nature. I haven’t seen it for a few years but it was a terrific value for $40.

Cheers,

Hal

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30

Great call on the Diebolt-Vallois but they are creeping up in price in Oregon and probably more than $40 now ($47-50).

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31

We had a bottle last night, and while Agrapart is very much a favorite, this was kind of low acid and round. Not sure if it’s a flawed bottle or just quite a bit riper than normal.

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32

Marcus,

The usual suspects have the Tradition at $36 and the NV BdB at $39. Prestige and the vintage BdB (and probably Rose) are more.

Thanks,

Zachary

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33

That’s great. Current wholesale in Oregon is $34 for the NV

34

This was on sale at the grocery store combined with a 6 pack discount for $24. Had to pick one up to test.

Agree with your assessment

The brut rosè is okay too

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35

I haven’t had that in several years, but I definitely used to think that was the better buy among the “frequently found in supermarkets” big house Champagnes.

36

No one has mentioned the Marc Hebrart wines. Several of those can be found in the low $40 range.

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37

Moussé Fils, Etienne Calsac, Rigot-Caillez, and Jose Dhondt are some of my favorite values

38

Really? I’ve been keeping an eye out for them and haven’t found them much below about $50. Still worth trying, but a slightly higher price point.

39

https://www.nolimitfinewines.com/product/nv-mousse-fils-brut-champagne-blanc-de-noirs-lor-deugene/

NV Mousse Fils Brut Champagne Perpetuelle Blanc de Noirs l’Or d’Eugene available here for $43.

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40

Shoot. It does look like that level has about sold out.

Saratoga has the BdB for $45. The Bottle List has four bottles of the BdB EB for $42.