Consolidated "Champagne - Questions/Suggestions/Recommendations" thread
Mar 22, 2016, 11:20 pm
#976
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Personally, I just don't see real Champagne as being worth the freight relative to other sparklers available in the U.S. market.
Give me a Piper Sonoma for $12, or a Roederer Estate for under $20 any day over any Champagne that sells for under $40 a bottle. And if I want to splurge and pay $40 a bottle, I'll go for a vintage Roederer L'Ermitage.
Now don't get me wrong - I certainly like Dom or Krug, but I just don't see them being worth anything close to $200 a bottle in the grand scheme of things. For $200 a bottle, I expect to be drinking a top tier Red Burgundy with some age on it. Champagne at that price point just seems frivolous to me.
Give me a Piper Sonoma for $12, or a Roederer Estate for under $20 any day over any Champagne that sells for under $40 a bottle. And if I want to splurge and pay $40 a bottle, I'll go for a vintage Roederer L'Ermitage.
Now don't get me wrong - I certainly like Dom or Krug, but I just don't see them being worth anything close to $200 a bottle in the grand scheme of things. For $200 a bottle, I expect to be drinking a top tier Red Burgundy with some age on it. Champagne at that price point just seems frivolous to me.
Mar 23, 2016, 6:50 am
#977
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Others high quality small producer Champagne houses that I tasted recently are...
BARON DAUVERGNE
BOURGEOIS-DIAZ
GONET-MÉDEVILLE
OLIVIER HORIOT
LAHERTE & FRÈRES
CHRISTOPHE LEFÈVRE
RÉMY MASSIN & FILS
ROBERT MONTCUIT
MOUZON LEROUX ET FILS
VAUVERSIN
The retail prices for these are around €20 - €35 per bottle. And there are many ways to avoid paying high retail prices.
Mar 23, 2016, 6:58 am
#978
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We drink a lot of Champagne in our house. In a typical week, we open 2-3 bottles. Typically they are entry level Champagnes, usually less than $40/bottle. Occasionally we drink more expensive stuff. The last three times I've been served Veuve yellow label (two of those times, it was served blind, so there was no label bias involved) I have literally poured it down the drain because I found it undrinkable. No hyperbole involved.
Mar 23, 2016, 7:49 am
#979
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Yeah, I don't mind Veuve. I drink Champagne so rarely though, that I don't quite remember it. I recently found a bottle of Veuve for $39 vs the usual $46 so I bought it.
Mar 23, 2016, 8:12 am
#980
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You have to remember that the reason a Champagne tastes so bad that you pour it down the drain is probably not due to the producer of the product nor the quality of the grapes. It is most often due to the importers not taking good care of the product during transport or improper storage in the US or whatever country you are in. For those who say they hate VC, I would suggest taking a visit to Reims and try it sur place. It will likely taste completely different to you. I'm not saying VC is the best or worth the price, but if you get a good bottle it is certainly not something you'd pour down the drain. And their Grande Dame line is a really good Champagne.
Further, I rather doubt that that poster has had Veuve that the importers didn't take good care of on three occasions, but have taken good care of all the others such that it didn't need to be poured down the drain. I'm pretty sure whoever imports it is importing countless other brands, as well.
Mar 23, 2016, 12:38 pm
#981
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This is kind of where I come down on the issue, except when I travel to France. Then, I like to take advantage of my environs and try lots of small producers whose product doesn't make it to the USA.
Mar 28, 2016, 5:03 pm
#982
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Another reaction to someone claiming they have poured Veuve down the drain three times might be, "Uh huh."
Further, I rather doubt that that poster has had Veuve that the importers didn't take good care of on three occasions, but have taken good care of all the others such that it didn't need to be poured down the drain. I'm pretty sure whoever imports it is importing countless other brands, as well.
Further, I rather doubt that that poster has had Veuve that the importers didn't take good care of on three occasions, but have taken good care of all the others such that it didn't need to be poured down the drain. I'm pretty sure whoever imports it is importing countless other brands, as well.
And I think life is way too short to drink crappy wine. That's what dump buckets (or sink drains) are for.
Jun 13, 2016, 6:08 pm
#986
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I should have said that Amex is running a promo for a free day at Sam's Club. I'm not sure how targeted it is, but I got an email about it. So for one day I got to use Sam's Club and pay the same prices as members. I think I spent about $350. 
Jun 13, 2016, 6:13 pm
#988
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Jun 13, 2016, 6:35 pm
#990
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