I think you mean Louis Roederer as the cheap man's Cristal

Personally, I find Louis Roederer and Laurent Perrier as excellent everyday (i.e. why not?) champagnes, especially in comparison with Veuve Cliquot (which I found to be rubbish).

The price for Roederer Estate is similar to some of those mid-priced champagnes mentioned above. That's why I wondered whether it's any good.

Ahhhh, the great divide in champagne style. Veuve is extremely fine, but a different style. It took me a year of heavy champagne drinking to find and like all the different styles of champagne. Equally fine, but very different. Veuve takes some getting used to and a sophisticated palate, but it has a lot of history behind it. Generations of wine snobs can't all be wrong

Any thoughts on Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut? I found this for $25 at a local chain if you're a "member." This seemed like quite a big discount.

Perrrier-Jouet is quite floral and has an "apple juice" kind of flavour. Very nice and great value, but that light style doesn't appeal to everyone, hence the bargain price at times.

We <heart> it for special occasions.

http://www.bevmo.com/Shop/ProductDet...ProductID=1035

With Gram's Italian beef?

I like Perrier Jouet (the one with the flowers on the bottle), Bollinger (it has the Queen's seal on it so if it's good enough for the Queen...) and Laurent Perrier. I have had Roederer, but I don't remember it good or otherwise.

I admit that I really like many cavas I've tried, so YMMV.

That said, two champagnes I enjoy a lot are Nicolas Feuillante (about $25/bottle) and Marguet Grand Cru Reserve (about $50/bottle, though I got a magnum for New Year's for $90). Of the two, I prefer Marguet.

Yes, what I'm trying to find is a cava that tastes as good as the Nicolas Feuillatte, for example. Can you name one please? The cavas I've tried are, for me, more like a Chandon from CA. OK, but not the smooth finish of a nice champagne.

I haven't kept track of the names of the good cava's that I've had in the past. Like I said, the Dutch love the stuff and I found this website. http://www.casacava.nl/

If your browser has a translator(like Chrome) you should be able to learn a few things.

Also, here is the Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cava_(Spanish_wine)#Cava

During the holidays, I had a Kirkland brand Champagne, it wasn't bad. I think the guy hosting the party said it was pretty inexpensive. It was NV IIRC.

Interesting. I see it's French too. I wonder who bottles it for them. It gets very high ratings on the Costco website (for whatever that's worth). A couple people say it's better than Veuve.

I don't think you'll be disappointed with Roederer Estate. I think I mentioned it in another thread. It was worth drinking again. I've seldom enjoyed Cava. And not too fond of Prosecco. Try it and post, please! As for Perrier-Jouet, at $25, why not compare the two?

Granted this is a strange date to be posting this, and I honestly hope it doesn't seem churlish, but am I the only person in the world who's sick to death of Champagne?

It's not even the drink itself I mind so much, it's having it thrown in my face everywhere I go, especially whilst travelling. Arrive at a hotel: "Here's your Champagne Sir!" Step onto a boat (whether private or a cruise ship) "Here's your Champagne Sir!" Step into the F cabin on a plane "Here's your Champagne Sir!"

Everywhere, it's a marker for, well, channeling Porgy (or is it Rochester?) "We'z libbin de high life nah!!!" Oh please. Does it occur to everyone that this 'marker' for 'special occasion' loses its value if it's everywhere you turn?

No, I haven't objected at wedding receptions nor will I object tonight. Some places and times it's definitely right. But everywhere always?? Am I really alone in thinking this? I even searched Google for "champagne everywhere you go" and virtually nothing came up except "We don't buy no drinks at the bar; pop champagne cuz we got that dough. -- Trey Songz." Which sort of illustrates my point

Free champagne to those arriving by boat!

http://thechampagnebus.com/

"You don't just 'turn up' in the sparkling gold metalflake CHAMPAGNE BUS, you ARRIVE!"

Now of course, having posted that I can already hear someone saying, "poor dear, the troubles you have"

I need a drink now