Consolidated "Champagne - Questions/Suggestions/Recommendations" thread
Dec 30, 2015, 11:13 am
#901
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,242
IMO:
Gruet is a very nice U.S. sparkling wine producer.
Cristal is overrated.
We did a tour of the Champagne region last year, only going to producers of "Grower" champagnes. One of our favorites is Egly-Ouriet. In total, we bought 3 cases from various producers and brought them back with us as checked luggage.
Gruet is a very nice U.S. sparkling wine producer.
Cristal is overrated.
We did a tour of the Champagne region last year, only going to producers of "Grower" champagnes. One of our favorites is Egly-Ouriet. In total, we bought 3 cases from various producers and brought them back with us as checked luggage.
FLYMSY, I'm going to pick up a bottle of Gruet, based on recommendations here. Have you ever heard of Jacqueline Leonne, also from New Mexico?
Dec 30, 2015, 11:39 am
#902
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But I totally agree with you about buying from the smaller houses. As I've said earlier in this thread, I only buy the small batch Champagne or Crémant from Burgundy or Alsace. I pay less than 10 bucks and it is as good as all but the top 1 or 2% of Champagnes. The reason Champagne is expensive is almost entirely due to marketing. The houses that make good Champagne or Crémant, and don't spend on marketing, can sell it for less than 10 bucks a bottle and still make a good living.
Dec 30, 2015, 11:44 am
#903
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Do all US airports make you go through security again from a TATL flight? I know that didn't use to be the case, but I'm not sure now. Maybe someone else knows the current rules and if they vary by airport. In my case I rarely if ever make a domestic US connection. I just fly into LAX for LA, ORD for Chicago, IAD for D.C., etc.
Dec 30, 2015, 1:17 pm
#904
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
Do all US airports make you go through security again from a TATL flight? I know that didn't use to be the case, but I'm not sure now. Maybe someone else knows the current rules and if they vary by airport. In my case I rarely if ever make a domestic US connection. I just fly into LAX for LA, ORD for Chicago, IAD for D.C., etc.
Dec 30, 2015, 1:20 pm
#905
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
Dec 30, 2015, 1:26 pm
#906
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Sorry, for some reason I was thinking the other way around. Domestic flight connecting to international does not mean security re-screening assuming its the same terminal or there is a special airside transport between the terminals.
So we are back to buying wine in Europe for carry on only if you do not have a domestic connection, right?
So we are back to buying wine in Europe for carry on only if you do not have a domestic connection, right?
Dec 30, 2015, 2:00 pm
#907
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
Not necessarily. When I fly back from an international destination, I always have to take a domestic connection to get home. If I travel some place where I'm visiting wineries, I will usually buy 2-3 cases and check it as luggage. I'd do the same, even if I didn't have to connect.
Dec 30, 2015, 7:09 pm
#908
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: DL, AA
Posts: 359
Ha Ha, good one. Exactly! I believe Cristal is vintage only & may vary
from year to year in a tight aromatic/taste range. To my nose & taste-buds, it's Death-Valley-Dry,
with some yeast on the nose - I try to drink it with friends who prefer Bellini's.
Don't get me wrong, I won't turn down a good Bellini - best drunk overlooking
an ancient canal in Italy - somewhere.
from year to year in a tight aromatic/taste range. To my nose & taste-buds, it's Death-Valley-Dry,
with some yeast on the nose - I try to drink it with friends who prefer Bellini's.
Don't get me wrong, I won't turn down a good Bellini - best drunk overlooking
an ancient canal in Italy - somewhere.
Dec 30, 2015, 7:17 pm
#909
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: DL, AA
Posts: 359
I've had local NM still wine that was *fine*. I wasn't expecting
anything fabulous but it was a good house white.
Do a tasting & let us know.
Dec 30, 2015, 10:37 pm
#910
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Posts: 56,449
Bought some Veuve du Vernay Brut today for CAD$14 a bottle and am curious to see how it tastes on NYE. I'd love to be able to afford the name brand French champagne but this year this will have to do.
Cheers to all!
Cheers to all!
Dec 31, 2015, 3:39 am
#911
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 2,833
The allure of champagne is really down to the aggressive protection of the brand by the French and good marketing.
Every time I see a Formula 1 racing driver spraying Moet from a podium I always think that's the best use for it because it often tastes like fizzy vin de table.
Dec 31, 2015, 4:19 am
#912
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To repeat my point about the perils of shipping wine, I would say that most Champagne is excellent if you drink it in Champagne or a nearby region. But most distributors do not take good enough care with shipping. So drink the Cava in Spain, the Prosecco/Spumante in Italy, etc.
Dec 31, 2015, 9:40 pm
#913
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Just opened the Veuve du Vernay Brut and its a light golden colour with a fresh taste and lively bubbles. A solid performer at this price point and more than I expected so pleasantly surprised. Cheers to all!
Jan 1, 2016, 11:27 am
#914
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I needed a bottle for my friends and I for New Year's last night and the best I could find at Harris Teeter was Chandon Brut Classic. It was okay enough, especially for $19.99. Oh and I didn't have an ice bucket and this was the best I could do at the Hampton Inn I was staying at:
Jan 1, 2016, 3:35 pm
#915
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IMO:
Gruet is a very nice U.S. sparkling wine producer.
Cristal is overrated.
We did a tour of the Champagne region last year, only going to producers of "Grower" champagnes. One of our favorites is Egly-Ouriet. In total, we bought 3 cases from various producers and brought them back with us as checked luggage.
Gruet is a very nice U.S. sparkling wine producer.
Cristal is overrated.
We did a tour of the Champagne region last year, only going to producers of "Grower" champagnes. One of our favorites is Egly-Ouriet. In total, we bought 3 cases from various producers and brought them back with us as checked luggage.
Gruet is interesting (to me anyway) because several years ago I had some and enjoyed it. A few months ago, I ordered a bottle at a restaurant and two of us hated it and two of us loved it. Server (who I know well) took a splash and thought it was fine. My reaction was sort of like when a cilantro hater eats cilantro.