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The best off the rack (normal) champagne?

post #1 of 40
7/9/08 at 11:17pm
Thread Starter 
What do you think? Whats the best "non-annual" i.e. non Millésime, but normal-line champagne?...also: recommendations of little and exclusive but adequaetly-priced cuvees are most welcome. (my rec. e.g. Henri Billiot- Laetitia).
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post #2 of 40
7/9/08 at 11:26pm
Absolutely the most delicious and enjoyable champagne for under $100 bucks and it is about $30- Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs. Drink it alone, drink it with shell fish, drink it with dessert.It is a real treat.

http://www.schramsberg.com/blanc_de_noirs.html

For everyday, brunch, mimosas, Piper Sonoma about $13. I'll drink it anytime. My daughter calls it the "house champagne"

http://mightygoods.com/archives/2008...er-sonoma-brut
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post #3 of 40
7/9/08 at 11:54pm
One of the few bigger labels I like is Billecart Salmon NV. Pierre Peters and Larmandier-Bernier make nice blanc des blancs, and Vilmart and Egly Ouriet tasty big champagnes. Usually I will tend towards the former.
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post #4 of 40
7/10/08 at 12:41am
Of the ones that are easily found at neighborhood liquor stores, my favorite is Pol Roger
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post #5 of 40
7/10/08 at 3:13am
Deutz.
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post #6 of 40
7/10/08 at 3:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by gdl203 View Post
Of the ones that are easily found at neighborhood liquor stores, my favorite is Pol Roger

Oh yeah, how could I forget. The best value, widely available Champagne. Maybe a touch sweet, but generally well balanced. I like it from PJ Wine, something like $27/bottle.
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post #7 of 40
7/10/08 at 9:37am
a mum cordon rouge or a veuve cliquot are good champagnes and go for something around 30uros. cheaper is a nicolas feuilatte which is respectable for the price. at the very top of that list is a Dom perignon but I suspect it cost over 100 USD right around now
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post #8 of 40
7/10/08 at 9:38am
for a cuvee a piper heidseck is great. arent blanc des blancs et noirs des noirs more of clairettes than champagne? I dont think they are made in the AOC champagne bu I may be mistaken here. and yeah from what I see they arent champagne, but if you're not a purist then its ok.
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post #9 of 40
7/10/08 at 10:59am
on the cheap:



not so on the cheap:


and of course, the cliche:
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post #10 of 40
7/10/08 at 11:20am
I second the Pol Roger and would add the Bollinger Special Cuvee to the mix. It is readily available and my go to champagne at the moment.
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post #11 of 40
7/10/08 at 11:33am
One that hasn't been mentioned yet is Bollinger. The non vintage is my favorite champagne of the non vintages. Another one, which I believe to be more obscure, is Ayala - it's owned by the Bollinger family and is in the same town of Ay. Their rose champagne is delicious.

I prefer the dryness and toastiness (due to the yeast contribution) in the Bollinger.

On a side note, Bollinger still has three parcels of grape vines that predate the phyloxera outbreak in the 1800's. They make a champagne exclusively from these grapes. I've never had this wine. I also talked to people who work at the winery who said that they never tasted this wine as well. It's pretty special stuff.
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post #12 of 40
7/10/08 at 11:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by iridium7777 View Post
and of course, the cliche:

Cliquot cliche? Clearly clueless!
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post #13 of 40
7/10/08 at 12:20pm
Does it have to be Champagne or can it be sparkling?
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post #14 of 40
7/10/08 at 1:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark from Plano View Post
Cliquot cliche? Clearly clueless!


clearly.
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post #15 of 40
7/10/08 at 1:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark from Plano View Post
Cliquot cliche? Clearly clueless!


clearly, it's the breitling of champagnes.
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