The Festive Champagne Guide
Ten Champagnes to put you in the mood for Christmas and all the rest
Listed in ascending order of price, ignoring special offers and quantity discounts.
I've given a UK stockist and price (sometimes two) for each, but you can find other stockists in the UK and other countries on wine-searcher.com.
Les Pionniers Brut NV Champagne
Biscuity, rounded and fresh. Consistently good; remarkable value.
The Co-operative's own label. 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier, 10% Chardonnay. The vintage 2006 is even better and equally a bargain at £24.99
£16.99, The Co-operative
Veuve Monsigny Blanc de Blancs 2010 Champagne
Delicately buttery with peachy fruit and zingy freshness.
All Chardonnay. I can also recommend the non vintage (NV) Veuve Monsigny Brut at a mere £9.97.
£19.99, Aldi
Barnaut Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Bouzy NV Champagne
Full-bodied and succulent with red berry fruit, macaroon richness and zesty freshness.
100% Pinot Noir from the Grand Cru vineyards of Bouzy.
£23.95, Lea & Sandeman
Devaux Cuvée D de Devaux NV Champagne
Rich, creamy, toasty flavours set against fine-boned acidity.
A blend of 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay and 40% of the blend is reserve wine. Aged on its lees for 5 years.
£33.95, slurp.co.uk, £38.40, Hedonism Wines
Henriot Brut Souverain NV Champagne
Super-sleek with toast, almond-croissant, nutmeg flavours and crisp candied-lemon fruit.
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from 25 Crus; 20% reserve wines; 3 years’ ageing.
£34.01, thedrinkshop.com, £42.50, Fortnum & Mason
Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV Champagne
Generous, rich textured and multi-flavoured – toast, praline, apricot, hazelnuts, spice and more.
40%, Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier; 40% reserve wines with an average age of 10 years.
£37.95, Eton Vintners, £42, Berry Bros & Rudd
Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Cuvée Fleuron Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs 2006 Champagne
Impeccably tailored, creamy, almond-biscuit flavours, chalk-dust smoothness and mineral length.
All Chardonnay.
£40, Oddbins
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs NV Champagne
Effortlessly graceful with delicate brioche, apricot and lemon meringue pie flavours and mineral tautness.
100% Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards. Sister house to the great Salon. Tastes even better from a magnum (£87).
£42, Corney & Barrow
Ruinart Rosé NV Champagne
Elegant and supple; ripe peach and red berry fruit.
45% Chardonnay and 55% Pinot Noir, predominantly Premier Cru vineyards. 20–25% reserve wines.
£60, or £47.98 when you buy any 6 bottles, Majestic, £59.99, Selfridges
Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque 2007 Champagne
Vivacious fruit and patisserie flavours, chalky, creamy texture.
There are more complex prestige cuvées – the likes of Cristal, Salon, Krug, Pol Roger Cuvée Winston, Dom Pérignon, Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires, Taittinger Comtes de Champagne – but Belle Epoque has the irresistible bottle.
£120, Harvey Nichols
Opening photograph and photographs of Devaux, Henriot, Ruinart and Perrier-Jouet by Joanna Simon
Comments