Consolidated "Champagne - Questions/Suggestions/Recommendations" thread
Mar 21, 2016, 7:00 pm
#961
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Mar 21, 2016, 7:38 pm
#962
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Mar 21, 2016, 8:18 pm
#963
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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.
Mar 21, 2016, 8:49 pm
#964
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
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
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
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.
Mar 21, 2016, 8:56 pm
#965
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Mar 21, 2016, 9:07 pm
#966
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Alsace doesn't produce Champagne. It's sparkling wine is Crémant d'Alsace. Also, not my experience that the US prices are significantly higher for either the Grand Cru NM or RM Champagnes. At least, not at the wine shop that I frequent.
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.
Mar 22, 2016, 8:29 am
#968
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
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.
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.
Mar 22, 2016, 8:50 am
#969
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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.
Mar 22, 2016, 6:18 pm
#970
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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.
Mar 22, 2016, 6:31 pm
#971
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Mar 22, 2016, 7:04 pm
#972
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Mar 22, 2016, 7:10 pm
#973
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Mar 22, 2016, 9:29 pm
#974
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Mar 22, 2016, 9:32 pm
#975
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And, for the record, I quite like aged Dom, but there are many less expensive Champagnes with much less famous labels that I enjoy at least as much, especially when consumed within a few years after release.