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The Festive Champagne Guide


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

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