Originally Posted by zitsky (Post 26366789)

Thanks. I will look for these. Not sure if I will find them locally but I will give it a try.

Originally Posted by stimpy (Post 26366871)

One tends to find wine from the best small producers of Champagne in Champagne. ;) Usually for around €6 or €7 per bottle.

Originally Posted by zitsky (Post 26367031)

That's *really* helpful. LOL. I will be in France later this year, but not Champagne. I'll try to find something.

Originally Posted by travellingwineO (Post 26366743)

The truth of the matter is that there are countless excellent Champagnes in the same price range as the undrinkable mass marketed swill that is Veuve yellow label. Most of them are small producers.

Here are a few off the top of my head in the $35-$50 range:

Aubry Brut
Chartogne-Taillet Cuvée Ste. Anne
Vilmart Cuvée Reservée
Pierre Peters Blanc des Blancs
Agrapart Terroirs
H. Billiot Brut
Marie Noelle-Ledru
Marc Hebrart Cuvée de Reserve
Bereche Brut Reserve

Originally Posted by stimpy (Post 26366871)

One tends to find wine from the best small producers of Champagne in Champagne. ;) Usually for around €6 or €7 per bottle.

Originally Posted by stimpy (Post 26367220)

In neighboring regions such as Alsace and Burgundy you can also find a hundred+ unique Champagne choices and even in Paris. And also in other EU countries where there isn't an extra tax you can buy good Champagne at a decent price. But when it gets put on a boat and sent to the US the price goes up a lot. And in many cases where they don't take the best care in shipping the quality goes down.

Originally Posted by FLYMSY (Post 26367326)

Nice list. I'd like to add Egly Ouriet to it.

Originally Posted by FLYMSY (Post 26367326)

I don't believe that you'll find any Grand Cru RMs, which would be the best, at that price point.

Originally Posted by stimpy (Post 26367396)

Not Grand Cru's, but still very decent Champagnes by independent producers can be found at that price point. And you can even find well aged millésimes at around €15-€20 euros or so depending on how you buy it. I have a lot of millésime 2000 that I bought at a good price a couple of years ago.



Yes I know Alsace doesn't produce Champagne. My point was that you can purchase good low cost independent Champagne while in Alsace or Burgundy. And if you scroll through this thread I've identified some excellent producers of crémant de Bourgogne and Alsace which costs less than €10 per bottle.

And yes you can get MUCH better pricing in France of Champagnes at all levels, though yes it is harder to find the big names like Krug or Taittinger. at a good price. You have to really know someone for those. But again, you can find really, really good quality at a low price in France especially if you visit an independent producer. Speaking French helps. ;)

Originally Posted by FLYMSY (Post 26369449)

Thanks for the tip about your Crémant suggestions. Would you mind posting some of your €6-7 Champagne suggestions? Also, your €15-20 Millésimes suggestions? Thanks.

Originally Posted by travellingwineO (Post 26366743)

The truth of the matter is that there are countless excellent Champagnes in the same price range as the undrinkable mass marketed swill that is Veuve yellow label.

Originally Posted by MaxBuck (Post 26372494)

Veuve is overpriced in the US market, but calling it "undrinkable swill" is pretty extreme hyperbole. It's plenty tasty, though I'd not pay the price.

Originally Posted by zitsky (Post 26372549)

I prefer Veuve to more expensive champagne (Dom). After this thread, I feel ashamed to admit that I like it. :)

Originally Posted by MaxBuck (Post 26372631)

Meh. The best wine for you is the wine you like best. Anyone who claims otherwise is nuts. ^

Originally Posted by FLYMSY (Post 26369449)

Thanks for the tip about your Crémant suggestions. Would you mind posting some of your €6-7 Champagne suggestions? Also, your €15-20 Millésimes suggestions? Thanks.

Originally Posted by stimpy (Post 26369559)

They are all in this thread somewhere. You have only 894 posts to read! Or maybe do a search for my username in this thread.

Originally Posted by MaxBuck (Post 26372494)

Veuve is overpriced in the US market, but calling it "undrinkable swill" is pretty extreme hyperbole. It's plenty tasty, though I'd not pay the price.