Are you using Safari? Even if you're not, it could be the browser you're using. I found this out from the Japan forum as I couldn't get Japanese characters into FT.

I know a cheat though.

Find the word you want in Google, copy and paste it and then put it into FT.

Thus; rosé

(works for me when I can't be bothered to fire up 'camino')

I always try to keep a couple of bottles of Cristal on hand along with a several Schramsburg Blanc de Blancs (about $25 sometimes available at Trader Joe's) for my Y class guests :p

I've been enjoying the Duval-Leroy NV lately. My local Cost Plus store has had it at 50% off, which works out to be about $21 per bottle. The bottle is decorated with Leroy Neiman gold-embossed Parisien scenes.

This thread has reminded me to go stock up on some more before the clearance sale goes away for good. I better hurry before some Flyertalkers grab the remaining supply. ;)

If you ever see the Duval Leroy La Femme, buy it.

Also, the LP Grand Siecle is pretty decent this time around, a bit fatter than in previous years which I think helps a lot.

Thanks so far!
To be exact: It should be champage (no cava, spumante, cremant) and I'm not planing on mixing that stuff with anything else.


I like that attitude!

For excellent non-vintage , throw out the 10-15 branded wines, and choose any of the rest:

Find a Therry Theise import. he has far and away the best selection, the best growers, and with all grape blends. very few, if any major houses grow any of the grapes that go into NV wine.

* A MARGAINE
* A.R. LENOBLE
* AGRAPART ET FILS
* ALFRED GRATIEN
* AUBRY
* BARNAUT
* BESSART DE BELLEFON
* BILLECART-SALMON
* BOLLINGER
* BRUNO PAILLARD
* CAMILE SAVES
* CANARAD DUCHENE
* CARRE-GUEBELS
* CATTIER
* CHARLES ELLNER
* CHARLES HEIDSIECK
* CHARLES LAFITTE
* CHARTOGNE-TAILLET
* COMTE AUDOIN DE DAMPIERRE
* DE SOUSA & FILS
* DELAMOTTE
* DEUTZ
* DIEBOLT-VALLOIS
* DRAPPIER
* DUVAL-LEROY
* EGLY-OURIET
* FLEURY PERE ET FILS
* GASTON-CHIQUET
* GOBILLARD
* GODME
* GOSSET
* GOSSET-BRABANT
* GUY CHARLEMAGNE
* GUY LARMANDIER
* HEIDSIECK MONOPOLE
* HENRI ABELE
* HENRI BILLIOT
* HENRI GIRAUD
* HENRIOT
* J LASSALLE
* JAQUESSON
* JEAN LALLEMENT
* JEAN LAURENT
* JEAN MILAN
* JEAN VESSELLE
* JOSE DHONDT
* JOSEPH PERRIER
* KRUG
* LALLIER
* LAMIABLE
* LANCELOT-ROYER
* LARMANDIER-BERNIER
* LAURENT PERRIER
* LOUIS DE SACY
* MAILLY
* MARC HEBRART
* MARCEL MOINEAUX
* MOET ET CHANDON
* MUMM
* NICOLAS FEUILLATTE
* PALMER & CO
* PAUL BARA
* PERRIER-JOUET
* PHILIPPONNAT
* PIERRE GIMONNET
* PIERRE MONQUIT
* PIERRE PETERS
* PIPER-HEIDSIECK
* PLOYEZ-JACQUEMART
* POL ROGER
* POMMERY
* RAYMOND BOULARD
* RENE GEOFFROY
* ROEDERER
* ROGER POUILLON ET FILS
* RUINART
* SALON
* SERVEAUX FILS
* TAITTINGER
* TROUIILLARD
* TURGY
* VARNIER-FANNIERE
* VEUVE CLICQUOT
* VILMART & CIE
* ZOEMIE DE SOUSA

I am forever amazed as to how strongly the FT group follows the brand name.


38.

why is it surprising? most people don't know much if anything about champagne so they go by the little knowledge they do have. same with food, cars, airlines, etc.

Champagne is all about brand names.

For the non-initiated, a brand name is often a good guide. Even you seem to trust the Therry Theise brand even though you are critical of the well-known champagne houses.

I would also disagree with your statement that you find better nv champagnes by throwing out the brand names. I challenge you to find no-name champagnes that are consistently as good as e.g. Pol Roger or Billecart-Salmon NV. I've had several (not all by any means) of the less known champagnes on the list and IMHO they do not measure up.

Cheers,
T.

I think the Roederer Brut is a great non-vintage. I also like the Pol Roger. But my favorite is Selfridges House Champagne served with a dozen oysters ;)

I'd never heard of this guy. Does he import to anywhere else but North America?

OP is a European.

Also, I don't understand your list - what is it?

I think of champagne and decades of marketing have assured that I have some names in my head:

BOLLINGER
GOSSET
KRUG
MOET ET CHANDON
MUMM
NICOLAS FEUILLATTE
PIPER-HEIDSIECK
POL ROGER
POMMERY
RUINART
SALON
TAITTINGER
VEUVE CLICQUOT (And CRISTAL & DOM PERIGNON... of course!)

And these are all in your list

Which are the 10-15 branded wines? :confused: Seems it might have been easier to have listed these instead.

Can anyone explain what the point of this post was? Yesterday my husband was given a NV Pommery Brut Royal bottle - does the fact that POMMERy feautures in the list mean it will likely be good? (I'm not expecting much and will have the sugar cubes, angostura bitters and brandy ready to salvage it if necessary.)

My all time favorite (at least so far) is the Billecart Rose, but I think that is out of the price range of the OP. We drink some american sparklers and enjoy them, but I don't know how available they would be in Europe...we have liked the Gruet, from New Mexico (weird location but nice wine) and the Iron Horse from Sonoma; also, a number of years ago I got a Cloudy Bay sparkler from NZ in London, and it was terrific. I have had a lot of cavas in Spain when travelling on business, but honestly can't remember the names of them, but found them enjoyable and light, especially in the hot weather.

It couldn't be more true!

Also, the OP specifically asked for "mainstream" brands...which is why most replied with mainstream brands! Ask and ye shall receive :)