I think TJ's also sells VC yellow label for $29.99. Not a bad price.

Time to visit Trader Joe's. You guys find it to be cheaper than local supermarket?

Generally, yes. If you have time also look at some specialty stores. For instance, in San Francisco D&M on Fillmore has an amazing selection of champagne at very good prices.

Champagne Bollinger Spécial Cuvée

(OT) then Château Rayne Vigneau, Sauternes 1er Grand Cru, 1970
then Château Lagrange, Pomerol, 1995.

:p

Pommery Brut Royal ^

I don't think Korbel Brut was mentioned - we had it last night and enjoyed it.

Turns out we had Mumms which was very nice. 2 bottles for the 4 of us, and a bottle of red with dinner (roast beef succulently jucey). We were happy.
Rita

We ended up with a Mumms DVX last night, and today, totally unexpected was a great find, the Mumms Pinot Noir Red Sparkling was a gem. Tiny bubbles that were perfect with the chicken dish we were serving.

We had been hesitant about opening it, we have had it for over a year from a wine club shipment from them, and will certainly have to get some more.

Red Sparklings are few and far between, good tasting ones even stranger.

The Deutz non-vintage is relatively easy to find in NYC, usually $25-30/bottle, great value. ^

I was in CA so we decided to drink a sparkling wine from Iron Horse, quite good.

My better half and I enjoyed a bottle of 1988 Krug.

Yes - it's very good. I had it at their caves in Carneros. And I have seen it at some shops, supermarkets too.
I believe it belongs to Taittinger, and the have a lady winemaker and CEO..

OT: Book Review
 

CHAMPAGNE
How the World's Most Glamorous Wine Triumphed Over War and Hard Times.
By Don Kladstrup and Petie Kladstrup.
Illustrated. 286 pp. William Morrow/HarperCollins Publishers. $23.95.

Review by ALIDA BECKER
Published: January 1, 2006
THE best way to read Don and Petie Kladstrup's "Champagne" is with a bottle at your side - and not for the obvious reason. Stone cold sober, you might find yourself irritated by their scattershot approach to the history of "the world's most glamorous wine." You might accuse them of being superficial and disorganized, or at least easily distracted. But if you put yourself in an amiably distracted state, their breezy factoids and vignettes become manageable, even charming. If nothing else, you'll sympathize when they confess to some research that "went straight to our heads."

Complete review:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/01/bo.../01becker.html

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password: flyertalk

I hope the reason for moi bumping this is not too OT, but:

If the FT experts would have any recs on Christmas champers I could serve with both cold and warm fish dishes ( about the only stuff I know how to cook well ) you´d make me a happy camper. :) Think fish eggs, gravad salmon, and fried fish fillets.

This is a good one from California...

NV
Roederer Estate Brut Sparkling (750ML)


Varietal: Blend
Aged from one to three years, wines from Roederer Estates reserve cellar are added to a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, creating a multi-vintage cuvée in the traditional Roederer style, known for its body, finesse and depth of flavor. "A delicious California sparkler with rich and toasty aromas up front, and a follow-up that features focused and complex lemon, grapefruit, herb, green apple and pear flavors. It's bright and clean on the finish, quite refreshing…90." WS

About $20.

And...

Gloria Ferrer Brut California Sparkling Wine NV

Number 97 on Wine Spectator top 100 wines of 2004.

An exceptional value. Round and full-bodied, with rich, ripe apple, pear and honeydew melon flavors. This complex sparkler has a nice touch of yeast and doughy aroumas that give it added flavor, turning creamy with a touch of vanilla. Drink now through 2009. 90/100 Wine Spectator "Wine of the Week" Oct 11,2004

About $19.

Excellent suggestions, those are remarkably good California sparkling wines, better than most champagnes. The Roederer would be better with cold fish, and the Ferrer with hot fish, fwiw. But isn't akvavit the traditional drink with gravad salmon?

If wanting to spend a lot more and get a nice champagne, try Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque. It has a floral, apple scent and light taste that would go well with most fish. By far the lightest of the "serious" champagnes (and so good that I recommend it, despite my taste running to heavy champagnes).