Advice on champagne

[wineflyer]

I’m rather surprised that no one (on AFF) made mention of this event TASTE CHAMPAGNE – The World's Biggest Champagne Showcase Series held in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth & Adelaide
It has been and gone , and the number and range of champagne houses on offer seemed to be good value.
Maybe next year!

I shall make a diary note and start a thread.

I was at the Melbourne event which was very nicely done, although it was on a Monday evening.
My advice is to go through the list of houses and make a list of what you would like to try as there are simply too many to try at a comfortable pace.

 

[pagingjoan]

I was at the Melbourne event which was very nicely done, although it was on a Monday evening.
My advice is to go through the list of houses and make a list of what you would like to try as there are simply too many to try at a comfortable pace.

And don’t be surprised if the minimal stocks of the top shelf items have been exhausted at the Trade sessions, as has happened in the past.

 

[Tassieoptom]

First time posting in this thread and am pretty excited to follow along as champagne is one of my true loves! Any opinions on decent sparklings under or around $25? I'm a Grant Burge fan, but would like try something new without breaking the bank ...

Try Cool Wine in Hobart, great selection of French Champagne and great sale prices. French and they will ship for a price.
Pol Roger NV Champagne One of my favourites and a steal at $84.50 or their 2008 vintage for $125.

Keeping to your budget Monmousseau NV Sparkling Vouvray from the Loire is good at $29.50
As is Louis Bouillot NV Grande Reserve at the same price.

And lastly a slight stretch above your budget Nicolas Feuillatte NV Champagne a steal at $55 down from $97.50.

 

[Saltywings]

Irrelevant to recent posts but relevant for the thread - advice for champagnes if budget was not an issue? For context I prefer the toasty, briochy types - think Krug 2000, Boll & Cie etc. I have tried the entire spectrum from 'champagnes' *cough* to Clos d'Ambonnay so I'm not too picky as long as I get some breakfast vibes going on.

 

[wineflyer]

Irrelevant to recent posts but relevant for the thread - advice for champagnes if budget was not an issue? For context I prefer the toasty, briochy types - think Krug 2000, Boll & Cie etc. I have tried the entire spectrum from 'champagnes' *cough* to Clos d'Ambonnay so I'm not too picky as long as I get some breakfast vibes going on.

Krug 00 and Boll & Cie Grand Cru are great briochy wines. Can also try Charles Heidsiek Vintage or some Vintage Jacques Selosse if you can get your hands on it.

 

[Straubs]

Try Cool Wine in Hobart, great selection of French Champagne and great sale prices. French and they will ship for a price.
Pol Roger NV Champagne One of my favourites and a steal at $84.50 or their 2008 vintage for $125.

Keeping to your budget Monmousseau NV Sparkling Vouvray from the Loire is good at $29.50
As is Louis Bouillot NV Grande Reserve at the same price.

And lastly a slight stretch above your budget Nicolas Feuillatte NV Champagne a steal at $55 down from $97.50.

Great advice, thanks! Will look into trying some of those

 

[Straubs]

I suppose you need to decide whether or not you’re looking for sparkling wine advice or champagne advice.
The adage that all champagnes are sparkling wine but not all sparkling wines are champagne applies here.
I’m also guessing that a budget of $25.00 isn’t going to work when you’re talking champagne. ( yes there are some “occasional” specials which are drinkable) I subscribe to the theory, that less quantity and more quality will deliver the best result.
Try some of the min stream (avoid Moët) champagnes on offer, watch for the specials and find what works for you .
I have found that generally speaking , some really nice champagnes come on special for as little as $50.00 - $60.00 per bottle.
Of the NV on offer, I enjoy Billiecart , Perrier-Jouët, Bollinger, Taittinger (very popular amongst AFF’rs ) Veuve Clicquot, to name a few.
Then of course there are a whole range of Cremant to consider.
I was sceptical at first, but enjoyed some very nice NV Cremant in Burgundy in April 2017, price is more in line with your budget mentioned above. It is of course a champagne style, just not produced in champagne.
Some people like Prosecco , frankly I don’t care for the stuff, it is essentially a carbonated wine, a bit like sofa water compared to still water .
I am not an aficionado when it comes to champagne, or any wine for that matter, and I do think people should drink that which they enjoy and can afford, that is after all where the simple pleasures in life start.

Thanks GPH. You're right. While I love champagne, I'm only expecting sparkling at $25. It's my weekend choice, while a good champagne is more a special occasion thing. I agree regarding simple pleasures. For me, a night in with a home cooked meal, my hubby and kids beside me on the couch, book in one hand and bubbles in the other ...

 

[Saltywings]

Krug 00 and Boll & Cie Grand Cru are great briochy wines. Can also try Charles Heidsiek Vintage or some Vintage Jacques Selosse if you can get your hands on it.

Thanks for the recs. In the CH range I've only tried CH Rare - notably different to Vintage? Can't find a single bottle of Vintage Jacques Selosse :')

 

[Deleted member]

Thanks GPH. You're right. While I love champagne, I'm only expecting sparkling at $25. It's my weekend choice, while a good champagne is more a special occasion thing. I agree regarding simple pleasures. For me, a night in with a home cooked meal, my hubby and kids beside me on the couch, book in one hand and bubbles in the other ...

Be adventurous and try as many different options as possible. Your favourite is out there waiting to be discovered.

 

[Kangol]

Thanks for the recs. In the CH range I've only tried CH Rare - notably different to Vintage? Can't find a single bottle of Vintage Jacques Selosse :')

You mean PH rare?
CH does the Blanc des Millenaires. The 1995 is amazing, the 2004 less to my liking.
QF F have started the 2004 BDM on rotation.

 

[Saltywings]

You mean PH rare?
CH does the Blanc des Millenaires. The 1995 is amazing, the 2004 less to my liking.
QF F have started the 2004 BDM on rotation.

Damn it, mixed up my Heidsieks/Heidsiecks (I may have been drunk typing...maybe).

But thanks, that's another one to put on the watchlist!

 

[Spongbob]

Pol Roger NV Champagne One of my favourites and a steal at $84.50 or their 2008 vintage for $125.

You regularly find both of these great wines at retail outlets for much lower prices (e.g. NV at about $70-75, vintage at about $100-110).

 

[Tassieoptom]

You regularly find both of these great wines at retail outlets for much lower prices (e.g. NV at about $70-75, vintage at about $100-110).

Wow, never seen it in any of our retail store in Hobart. Only at Cool wine, which is why I support them. Shop local and all. Ta

 

[kookaburra75]

Some people like Prosecco , frankly I don’t care for the stuff, it is essentially a carbonated wine, a bit like sofa water compared to still water .
I am not an aficionado when it comes to champagne, or any wine for that matter, and I do think people should drink that which they enjoy and can afford, that is after all where the simple pleasures in life start.

Try Dal Zotto's Col Fondo Prosecco - I think you will be pleasantly surprised. To quote someone at last years La Dolce Vita event who we were on the mini bus with - "It seems so wrong, but tastes so good"

 

[qaz]

I’m rather surprised that no one (on AFF) made mention of this event TASTE CHAMPAGNE – The World's Biggest Champagne Showcase Series held in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth & Adelaide
It has been and gone , and the number and range of champagne houses on offer seemed to be good value.
Maybe next year!

I shall make a diary note and start a thread.

Besides the annual Prince Wine Store champagne tastings on last week in Sydney and next week in Melbourne, various Dan Murphy's stores are having champagne events this month, such as with Dom Perignon and Louis Roederer Cristal, smaller grower champagnes, vintage and non-vintage (as well as new release Penfolds masterclasses)

Others in Melbourne include:

• Aurélien Laherte (Laherte Frères) & Olivier Collin (Champagne Ulysse Collin) @ Kirk's Pub - 6pm Thursday 18th October

• Annual Champagne Expo @ University House - 4.30-6pm Friday 16th November

Sydney:

• Battle of the Bubbles @ Vine (Redfern) - 12noon-2pm or 3-5pm Sunday 11th November ($30)

Andre Jacquart, Frerejean Freres, Gatinois, Gosset, Gremillet, Lacourte-Godbillon, Lanson, Laurent Perrier, Thienot​

Aussies embrace ‘new’ champers: Brimoncourt & Henri Abele

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Vintage Cellars have NV Jacquart and NV Collet at any 2 for $100, with triple wine club point this weekend (i.e. 15% off), making it $42.50 a bottle.

Champagne Jacquart Brut Mosaique NV 750mL | Vintage Cellars
Collet Champagne Brut NV | Vintage Cellars

(And counts as "Retail & Grocery - Groceries" if you have an Amex Platinum Edge, or 5% off with Coles gift cards...)

 

[qaz]

SYDNEY Langton's Billecart-Salmon Tasting @ Long Gallery, Australian Museum ($160)
7pm Tuesday 16th October 2018 - Semi-formal

Join us for an evening to celebrate 200 years of history. In the Long Gallery of the Australian Museum, Langton’s will host Antoine Roland-Billecart celebrate 200 years of the Maison surrounded by 200 years of Australian history.

Enjoy a selection of five vintage and non-vintage Billecart Champagnes guided by Antoine Roland-Billecart and matched with flowing canapés or stop by the oyster bar before taking in the important artefacts and curios from the last 200 years of the Gallery.

Besides the annual Prince Wine Store champagne tastings on last week in Sydney and next week in Melbourne, various Dan Murphy's stores are having champagne events this month, such as with Dom Perignon and Louis Roederer Cristal, smaller grower champagnes, vintage and non-vintage (as well as new release Penfolds masterclasses)

PWS offer ends tomorrow

 

[qaz]

PWS offer ends tomorrow

extended until this week

 

[redbigot]

Champagne wine is generally sweet, it won't be hard to love or just drink them. You can check out some premium champagne and sparking wines at WineBunker | Buy Sparkling Wine | Awesome Sparkling Wine Deals

Awesome, one Loire Sparkling wine on offer!

You do realise Brut means "dry"?

 

[boomy]

Dom 2005 for $210 at DM.

https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_408637/dom-perignon-brut-vintage-2005