One thing to keep in mind pairing caviar with Champagne is the body of the wine...Pol Roger is medium bodied, Vevue Cliquot is full bodied. The VC may overpower the caviar. I would also suggest some cheese. Try Boucheron goat cheese, it has a nice fruity tang to it that compliments the VC. Around me, Pol Roger goes for $25-30 and VC foes for $30-35 per bottle.

I really enjoy Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante. My girlfriend and I always drink this stuff. It's very inexpensive too. However, if you're going to be celebrating a special event without wanting to go overboard with the prices, I suggest Vueve Cliquot (sp?) or Moet & Chandon Nector (the blue label).

Eddie

Infernalsky brings up a good point in that there are many good Champagne-like European sparkling, bubbly, dry white wines.

Asti-Spumante tastes great.

The Italians, Spaniards and French have many of them.
The corks are wired, the bottles and labels are nice and the contents are quite appetizing.
Except the bottle will not say "Champagne".

Are they better than Korbel California Champagne that uses the méthode Champenoise
The USA allows the use of the word "Champagne" in wines not coming from the Champagne region.

California wineries produce great products.
So do the Europeans.



When I need a dozen bottles of bubbly for a brunch or an evening. I get Chateau Moncontour. I've seen some blogs say awful things about it but I have personally never seen or heard anyone complain about it.

The trick is to have a personal favourite and to pick it when you need it.

Critics, connoisseurs and booze hounds can be haughtily snobbish about wine.
They are worse than cigar fanatics.

What I finally decided to do was take the recommendation of the guy at the liquor store that Piper-Heidsieck, which was recently rated at 91, would do just fine and was reasonably priced. My mom and dad's anniversary dinner has increased in number to 11 so it would get a bit expensive to buy the Vieve - Cl. I don't think my folks would care and the Piper was 26 a bottle on sale and has to be better than the korbel my dad had ready. We'll see.

On sale! Pure genius!piper-heidsieck

has anyone else noticed the steadily increasing price of Vevue Cliquot? Last year could be found for $35-$40, not its $45-$50....is this just a Mass. thing or anyone esle in the country seeig it? ....White Star it is.

I've noticed it too, probly related to USD/EUR fx rate to some degree. Always a good idea to buy VC (or any champ.) from a big dealer around holiday time, seems to be more discounts that time of year. One name people didn't talk out was Nicolas Feuillatte premier cru brut. A lighter bodied wine, they use purchased premier cru grapes. This is going for $24 near me. At Xmas, often see it for $20. Wine Spectator gives it a 90 rating.

i would think the FX as well, although other Champagnes are not moving their prices. i bet its more about successful marketing...VC has done a great job of branding itself as a luxury label at an affordable price. yellow label is easily recognizable...marketing smarts.

thanks for the tip on Nic...i'll give it a try.

quote:

Originally posted by Don Coyote:

quote:

Originally posted by QM:
I would say all Champagnes taste pretty much all the same and it is not worth it to pay premium prices.

This statement alone shows that you don't know what you're talking about.

While i agree with the fact that champagne definitly all doesnt taste the same, i can see where QM is comming from. Prices are just so inflated with most brands its rediculious. If your not a regular champagne drinker its not going to be worth footing the extra $$ for a nicer bottle.

if anyone is not looking to drop serious cash then go sparkling. A couple months ago I was in sonoma/napa and stopped by Domaine Carneros (which is actually owned by Taittinger). they have a 2001 brut that is amazing bang for the buck. $20 at bigger shops and upwards to $25 at smaller city shops.

Check it out if $40 is too much. a great sparkling that you don't feel like you need to save for a special occasion, although is also good enough to stand up to a special occasion. For those who put stock in ratings, WS gave it a 90, which, if i'm not mistaken is also what they gave Veuve.

found the review: 2001 Domaine Carneros Brut Anderson Valley: "A rich, complex, concentrated wine, with pretty black cherry, spice and creamy, toasty scents that fold together nicely. On the finish the flavors linger, giving it an added measure. Drink now through 2008. 36,300 cases made." 90 Points - Wine Spectator, November 30, 2004

My go to Cal sparkler is Roederer Estate Anderson Valley from the Roederer Champagne house. Costs $15 where I live. You can serve this up at anytime you want to make something casual a bit more festive and yet not offend the wine snobs among you.

i'll check that out. i like good low cost, but quality champagne for parties when i'll go through 6-8 bottles...not really going to get a $50/bottle champagne for an event like that, as 90% of the people ususaly aren't champagne drinkers as well.

i've also been recomended Gloria Ferrer? ever tried it, i just did a search and found it to be highly rated as well, 90. but for about $18.

actually just check out domaine carneros web site and you can order a 3 or 6 liter bottle of the stuff. now that's a party bottle!!! how do you pour a 6 liter bottle? almost need a tap! i have to get one of those some day.

quote:

Originally posted by Don Coyote:

quote:

Originally posted by QM:
I would say all Champagnes taste pretty much all the same and it is not worth it to pay premium prices.

This statement alone shows that you don't know what you're talking about.

You are correct. There are some nuances.
But remember that I am talking about Brut Champagne from the Champagne region of France.
I do not include anything else.

This is not like Bordeaux where that gamut of product ranges from dollar a litre table wines to Grands Crus Classés.
Or Californian wines where the range of products is also huge.

BTW. You don`t know me so if you want to talk that way to your wife, brother or your friends in the alley go ahead. But keep it cordial with me or don`t talk to me at all. Got that?

I agree with QM. Keep it pleasant here. You can have your opinions without insulting people.

Puffing,
What has surprised me is that no one has brought a seemingly strange custom.
There is a bisquit called a langue de chat in french. Literally translated it means cat's tongue. You can dip them in the Champagne and eat them. The Champagne bubbles up when you dip.

I haven't done that in a long time.

Like dunking donuts into coffee.

Sounds good. I had some water crackers the other day and some belgium mild aged blue cheese.
I had to control myself from eating the entire package it was so good.

Don
I apologize for offending your sensibilities and I am sorry that I have hurt your feelings.
It was not my intention to be insensitive nor was it my intention to upset you in any way. But offend and hurt you I have. If there is anything I can do to make you feel better contact me at gallistoeuropa at yahoo dot ca. If you leave your phone number I can call you and express my profound regrets verbally. Unfortunately my business schedule prevents me from arranging to see you in person in the short term. In the longer term perhaps time will have healed your wounds and we can all put this unfortunate misunderstanding that is upsetting you behind us. In the mean time I wish you the best of luck and apologize again for any psychological trauma that you have endured over the recent days.

QM, I think we should keep your letter on file so it can be used in the future.
Do I smell any sarcasm bubbling up with the hypocrisy?
No, I think it is a more vegetal smell combined with cummin and cardimine, oops that's the cigar review.
I'll try again, I think I smell a fruity nose combined with a floral aftersniff. First taste is clean but leaves an aftertaste of hypocrisy.
Further down the glass, it is more sarcasm that comes through from other sources.
Oh, well. Whatever.

quote:

Originally posted by puffingaway:I think I smell a fruity nose combined with a floral aftersniff.

I don't wear cologne. You don't wear cologne.

Some guys wear cologne. Or is it this week's pinky lifted Chardonay of the century? Not that there's anything wrong with that.

If you are going to talk to me like that, you had better be ready to back it up, buster.
Oh, I'm sorry.