The Festive Champagne Guide
- Joanna Simon
- Dec 10, 2015
- 2 min read
Ten Champagnes to put you in the mood for Christmas and all the rest
Listed in ascending order of price, ignoring special offers and quantity discounts.
I've given a UK stockist and price (sometimes two) for each, but you can find other stockists in the UK and other countries on wine-searcher.com.
Les Pionniers Brut NV Champagne
Biscuity, rounded and fresh. Consistently good; remarkable value.
The Co-operative's own label. 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier, 10% Chardonnay. The vintage 2006 is even better and equally a bargain at £24.99
£16.99, The Co-operative
Veuve Monsigny Blanc de Blancs 2010 Champagne
Delicately buttery with peachy fruit and zingy freshness.
All Chardonnay. I can also recommend the non vintage (NV) Veuve Monsigny Brut at a mere £9.97.
£19.99, Aldi
Barnaut Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Bouzy NV Champagne
Full-bodied and succulent with red berry fruit, macaroon richness and zesty freshness.
100% Pinot Noir from the Grand Cru vineyards of Bouzy.
£23.95, Lea & Sandeman
Devaux Cuvée D de Devaux NV Champagne
Rich, creamy, toasty flavours set against fine-boned acidity.
A blend of 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay and 40% of the blend is reserve wine. Aged on its lees for 5 years.
£33.95, slurp.co.uk, £38.40, Hedonism Wines
Henriot Brut Souverain NV Champagne
Super-sleek with toast, almond-croissant, nutmeg flavours and crisp candied-lemon fruit.
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from 25 Crus; 20% reserve wines; 3 years’ ageing.
£34.01, thedrinkshop.com, £42.50, Fortnum & Mason
Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV Champagne
Generous, rich textured and multi-flavoured – toast, praline, apricot, hazelnuts, spice and more.
40%, Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier; 40% reserve wines with an average age of 10 years.
£37.95, Eton Vintners, £42, Berry Bros & Rudd
Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Cuvée Fleuron Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs 2006 Champagne
Impeccably tailored, creamy, almond-biscuit flavours, chalk-dust smoothness and mineral length.
All Chardonnay.
£40, Oddbins
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs NV Champagne
Effortlessly graceful with delicate brioche, apricot and lemon meringue pie flavours and mineral tautness.
100% Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards. Sister house to the great Salon. Tastes even better from a magnum (£87).
£42, Corney & Barrow
Ruinart Rosé NV Champagne
Elegant and supple; ripe peach and red berry fruit.
45% Chardonnay and 55% Pinot Noir, predominantly Premier Cru vineyards. 20–25% reserve wines.
£60, or £47.98 when you buy any 6 bottles, Majestic, £59.99, Selfridges
Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque 2007 Champagne
Vivacious fruit and patisserie flavours, chalky, creamy texture.
There are more complex prestige cuvées – the likes of Cristal, Salon, Krug, Pol Roger Cuvée Winston, Dom Pérignon, Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires, Taittinger Comtes de Champagne – but Belle Epoque has the irresistible bottle.
£120, Harvey Nichols
Opening photograph and photographs of Devaux, Henriot, Ruinart and Perrier-Jouet by Joanna Simon