Champagne on a budget

Greetings party people!

As the clock ticks closer to midnight, the mad rush for bubbly is well under way.  With modified tasting notes, here are some great choices under $50:

• Delamotte Brut NV ($45) - golden delicious and pears with a few nuts thrown in
• GH Mumm Cordon Rouge NV ($37) - bright citrus, green apples and vanilla
• Laurent Perrier Brut NV ($45) - candied green apple, citrus,
• Nicolas Feuillatte "Blue Label" Brut NV ($35) - ripe red apples and easy drinking
• Perrier Jouet Brut NV ($40) - citrus, grapefruit, peaches and toasted croissants - wonderful!
• Pommery Brut Royal NV ($48) - lemon, pears, honey and toast; creamy texture
• Pol Roger Brut NV ($49) - toasted brioche, floral; delicate, creamy texture - best in class
• '06 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs ($40) - red berries, baked apple, baking spices
• '06 Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc ($30) - apple, pear, citrus, cinammon
• Veuve Clicquot Brut NV ($49) - toast, vanilla, stone mineral, nuts
  

And if I wanted to splurge? A bottle of the '98 Krug Brut - oh yea!

What is NV anyway? NV stands for Non-Vintage which is a blend that's meant to have a consistent taste profile year over year and is typically much less expensive than the vintage counterpart.  Quality champagnes and sparkling wines have a fine mousse, a pale almost translucent color, and typically tastes of white fruit (apples & pears), toasted dough (croissants, brioche), and nuts.

Some critics judge salons by the quality of their NV champagnes, and reputations are staked on quality not quantity.  It's quite possible to buy an amazing champagne from a salon that produces a few hundred cases but that means we as consumers have a harder time finding it, and we most likely won't find it in our local market.  This is where your local wine retailer comes in.  Often times, they will have a wide selection of top end salons who produce fantastic NV champagnes similar to the average prices listed above.

Unless otherwise noted, most champagnes and sparkling wines are a blend of Blanc de Blanc (Chardonnay) and Blanc de Noirs (Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier).  The best ones are often 100% Chardonnay but personally, I like the elegant, floral qualities that surfaces when dark grapes are added in.

So happy shopping, enjoy your bubbly, and have a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve celebration!  All the best to you and yours for the upcoming year.

Till next time,
Salud

(as published on Examiner.com)