With only a few shopping days left until Christmas, it’s time to think about which champagnes you will choose for your Christmas Cheer! Here are 12 ideas to suit every budget.
Champagnes Under $50*
We are spoiled for choice at the moment on the Australian market. On my recent pre-Christmas scavenger hunt, I was pleasantly surprised to find some great value and excellent quality champagnes available.
Charles de Cazanove Brut Nature
I will admit, it was the outrageous green snakeskin packaging that caught my eye, but I know the brand and Charles de Cazanove is a very well respected house. In fact it is one of the oldest houses in champagne dating back to 1811. The Brut nature is a relatively new addition to their collection. Brut Nature means that it has less than 3g sugar/litre – so you could even go as far to say it is a diet champagne! It is classic and clean, and citrusy. I found it very refreshing and very well balanced despite the low dosage, which I sometimes find a bit harsh. Great for a hot Chistmas Day down under. The packaging alone would make this a great gift.
Canard-Duchêne Brut NV
This entry level cuvée from my friends at Canard-Duchêne is new to the Australian market and should not be confused with the more gourmet Léonie range which has been available for quite time now. It is a blend of cuvées from 60 vineyards and shows all the typical pinot characteristics from the Montagne de Reims that chef de cave Laurent Fédou is so talented at highlighting. It is a beautiful golden colour, with delicate bubbles. Red fruits and brioche notes linger, giving you a very Christmassy vibe.
Charles de Cazanove Sauvage Rosé
Another shout out to Cazanove, but I was so excited to see that their equally outrageously packaged rosé is coming in under $50. Bright pink snakeskin may be enough to cause some people to skip trying it, but it really is worth having a taste. It’s a beautiful coppery colour, with fine elegant bubbles. Distinct red fruits are apparent on the nose, but it was the palate that stayed with me. It was like eating pomegranate. It was very well balanced, with the pomegranate and black cherry flavours lingering even after my glass was finished. A must try for the price and a wonderful christmas gift.
Champagnes from $50 – $100*
De Saint Gall Blanc de Blanc Premier Cru
It’s great to see a Blanc de Blanc coming in for under $100. A couple of years ago I tasted the de Saint Gall premier cru with my friend Jayne for an episode of The Full Flute. We also tasted the Blanc de Blanc, but I forgot to press play on my camera, so you will just have to trust me on that one.
What I do remember was that it was very expressive. Given that they have a reputation for the quality of the grapes they source from the Côte des Blancs, it is not surprising that it is very ‘apply-dapply’. Fresh and inviting, a perfect match with your Christmas starter of oysters.
Pol Roger Brut Reserve Non-Vintage
A lot of people know that Pol Roger was a favourite of Winston Churchill. The house even made him his own special pint size bottle that he had the habit of opening at 11am every. At 586ml**, the pint is slightly more than a half bottle and not as large as a bottle – an elegant amount for a busy man to consume.
However, did you know that the Brut Reserve NV is also a favourite of the British Royal family? It was served following the weddings of His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales to Ms. Meghan Markle on 19th May 2018 and of Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York and Mr. Jack Brooksbank on the 12th October 2018.
And for under $100, you can enjoy it at your table this Christmas!
A blend of equal parts chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier, this champagne is celebrated for its balance. It displays long-lasting aromas both fruity and spicy. Candied peel and tangerine blend beautifully with cardamom and aniseed, which all seems a little bit like Christmas to me!
Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2008
The first of the vintages I found under $100, and what a vintage to try. 2008 is widely accepted to be the vintage of the century – the balance of acidity and sugar was last seen in 1959.
Madame Clicquot is said to have invented the first vintage champagne in 1811 after noticing a comet in the sky during the growing season. Apparently, the Great Comet of 1811 was visible to the naked eye for around 260 days, supposedly leading Madame Clicquot to wonder what effect it may have on the grapes. Up until that point, grapes from various vintages had always been blended. And so, the Veuve Clicquot Vintage 1811 was born. If you look closely at the Veuve Clicqout logo you can see the comet represented as a hexagon around the outside of the anchor.
With their 2008 vintage, the chef de cave at Veuve Clicquot made another innovation. Five percent of the wines were produced and aged in large wooden casks (foudres) from forests in Central France, increasing the champagne’s strength and aromatic richness.
Bold, lively and generous – much like the Christmas spirit!
Champagnes from $100 – $150*
Louis Roederer Brut Vintage 2012
According to Jean-Baptist Lecaillon, the Chef de Cave at Louis Roederer, “2012 was a year of contrasts, one of hard toil but full of light. And it was a year in which the maturity of the grapes crafted a Cristal of a new dimension.” Sadly we can’t buy Cristal in this price bracket, but never the less, the 2012 vintage is a fine example of the Louis Roederer terroir.
The palate is ample and dense; a rich, though refined by the sweetness, acidity and tight blend of the Pinot noir grapes of Verzenay. It is has a beautifully balanced texture. Candied fruits, almond paste, toast, white chocolate, and caramel tantalise the tastebuds. A ghost of Christmas past?
Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blanc
I must admit I have a soft spot for the Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blanc. A few years ago after spending an entire week tasting ‘vin clairs’ from various growers around the region and more cuvées than I can remember, all I wanted to do was sit down at the end and have a glass of something I knew. My friend took me to a bottle shop to choose a bottle, and it was the Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blanc that spoke to me. With a wry smile, my friend told me that it was exactly the same bottle that Champagne expert, Essi Avellan (Finland’s first Master of Wine), a person who I respect and admire enormously, had chosen the year before to share with her after a similar experience! I was very happy to see it available in this price range here.
This cuvée has been made from a blend of grapes sourced from four Grand Cru vineyards of the Côte des Blancs : Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger. As a result it is extremely elegant yet complex.
It has a pure intensity of almonds and fresh hazelnuts mixed with white peaches. In the mouth the creamy bubbles combine with buttered brioche and mineral aromas. Perfect to pair with your Christmas caviar!
Moët et Chandon Brut Impérial en magnum
This list would not be complete without bringing in the big guns, or in this case the big bottles! Magnums are perfect for parties, because they not only impress your friends, but you don’t have to open as many bottles. In fact, magnums are considered the perfect size for storing champagne. A magnum (latin for ‘great in size‘) is the equivalent of 2 bottles. However, a magnum and a normal bottle have the same size neck and cork, so the oxygen to wine ratio is much smaller than with a normal sized bottle, therefor the potential for oxidation is significantly less.
The Moët et Chandon Brut Impérial is an iconic champagne. Created in 1869, it embodies Moët & Chandon’s unique style. Chef de Cave, Benoit Gouez and his team taste their way through 800 cuvées before settling on the final 50 or 60 that they decide to blend each year for the final product.
It is vibrant, fresh and elegant. Just like Christmas!
Champagnes over $150*
There is no price limit to this category. This is for those who really want to impress and form whom price is not a consideration.
Dom Perignon 2008 Lenny Kravitz Limited Edition
As previously said, 2008 was an exceptional vintage and the Dom Perignon 2008 is one of the most expressively balanced new release vintages I have ever tasted. Imagine a glass ball that fills your entire mouth. That is what my first taste of Dom Perignon 2008 made me think of. There was no part of my mouth from the back of my tongue to the roof of my mouth that did not experience the flavours. Truly Sublime. The Lenny Kravitz designed bottle holds the same champagne, but is a joy to behold, and since it’s Christmas, a great choice if you can find it.
Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque Rosé 2002
It is the actual bottle of Belle-Époque that is one of my favourites. The floral artwork is immediately recognisable. The anemone motif was illustrated for the House in 1902 by Emile Gallé, a leading initiator of the Art Nouveau style and of the modern renaissance of French art glass.
For the Belle Époque Rosé, these anemones are etched onto clear glass, so the colour of the champagne inside can be admired – always a delicate salmon pink. 2002 was a wonderful year in champagne. The Belle Époque Rosé from that year is sublime. Fresh and delicate as the bottle suggests, it is all wild strawberries and citrus. This one would be perfect with your Christmas pavlova if your Christmas lunch has an Australian theme.
Bollinger RD 1988 en magnum
I had to put something here from the house of my soul champagne. 1988 was a very memorable year for me, as it was the year I first tasted champagne, and that champagne was Bollinger Special Cuvée. I have once tasted a Bollinger RD 1988 for the birth of my 3rd child in 2005. I have never tasted in en magnum. It was exceptional from a bottle, I can only imagine what it would be like from a magnum.
Rich and elegant, the flavours will stay with you for a life time.
If I were ever to taste it from a magnum, I am sure I would think that all my Christmases had come at once!
Have yourself a Bubbly Little Christmas, and don’t forget to leave me a comment to tell me what you decided to drink!
*prices are in Australian dollars
** imperial pint
