Savouring Bubbles on a Budget: Affordable Champagnes Worth Buying

Champagne, the quintessential drink of celebration and sophistication, often comes with a hefty price tag. 

However, enjoying a glass of fine Champagne doesn’t have to break the bank. There are numerous affordable options that offer excellent quality and taste without the premium price. 

Here’s a guide to some of the best cheaper Champagnes worth buying.

1. Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Réserve

Nicolas Feuillatte is the largest co-operative in Champagne, producing a wide range of wines. Their Brut Réserve is a fantastic option for those seeking a budget-friendly yet delightful Champagne. With a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier, and 20% Chardonnay, it offers a balanced flavour profile with notes of apple, pear, and almond. This Champagne is versatile, making it suitable for both casual gatherings and special occasions.

2. Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut

Piper-Heidsieck is a historic house with a reputation for quality. Their Cuvée Brut is an excellent entry-level Champagne that doesn’t compromise on taste. It is known for its bright and fresh characteristics, with citrus and green apple flavours complemented by a hint of toastiness. This Champagne is perfect as an aperitif or paired with light seafood dishes.

3. G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut

G.H. Mumm’s Cordon Rouge Brut is a widely recognised and respected Champagne that offers great value for money. Its consistent quality and approachable style make it a favourite among many. With a blend predominantly composed of Pinot Noir, it delivers a full-bodied experience with rich fruit flavours, hints of caramel, and a refreshing finish. This Champagne is ideal for celebrating milestones or enjoying with friends.

4. Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve

Charles Heidsieck may not be the cheapest on this list, but its Brut Réserve offers exceptional value given its quality. This Champagne is renowned for its depth and complexity, achieved through a high proportion of reserve wines and extended ageing. Expect a rich bouquet of toasted brioche, dried fruits, and a touch of honey. It’s an excellent choice for those who want to experience a premium Champagne without the top-tier price.

5. Lanson Black Label Brut

Lanson Black Label Brut is a classic Champagne that has stood the test of time. It is celebrated for its crisp and lively character, with a blend that emphasises Chardonnay for freshness. The flavour profile includes citrus, orchard fruits, and a subtle hint of honey. Its vibrant acidity makes it a great match for a variety of dishes, from oysters to soft cheeses.

6. Canard-Duchêne Brut

Canard-Duchêne Brut is an underrated gem that offers excellent quality at a reasonable price. This Champagne is crafted with a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay, providing a harmonious balance of fruitiness and elegance. Notes of pear, apple, and a touch of spice make it a delightful choice for any occasion.

7. Pommery Brut Royal

Pommery Brut Royal is another excellent option for those seeking an affordable yet refined Champagne. It is known for its light and fresh profile, with delicate citrus and white flower aromas. This Champagne is elegant and versatile, suitable for toasting at celebrations or enjoying alongside light appetizers.

Final Thoughts

Finding a good Champagne at an affordable price is entirely possible with a little knowledge and exploration. The options listed above offer a range of styles and flavours to suit various preferences and occasions. Whether you’re celebrating a special event or simply enjoying a casual evening, these Champagnes provide the perfect bubbles without the premium price tag.

Cheers to enjoying Champagne without the splurge!

Let's get fizzical this Valentine's Day with Porte Noire Champagne

As the late Olivia Newton-John almost said "Let's get fizzical!" 

And with the season of love quickly approaching, we'd like to tell our readers about a truly enchanting bottle of magical fizzical bubbles, the Petite Porte Noire Rosé Champagne.  

Porte Noire Wines was created after acclaimed actor Idris Elba, and wine entrepreneur, David Farber, visited the historical and prestigious Sanger viticultural school in Champagne in 2018. 

Since then, the outstanding Porte Noire wines, embodying elegance and sophistication, are much loved by the public.

"Porte Noire Wines was born out of true love for wines," says Idris Elba. "It represents my passion for elegance, artistry, and celebrating life's special moments.”  

Every bubble is an explosion of red fruit, each sip unveiling a deep, robust bouquet. Beyond being just a drink, it's a real experience, an embodiment of something special and something that's just undeniably sexy. 

Whether you're toasting to love, friendship, or simply savoring life's beautiful moments, the Petite Porte Noire Rosé Champagne is the perfect companion. Let it be the star of your Valentine's date night, adding a touch of elegance to the night ahead. Available from Harvey Nichols for £55.

To learn more please visit https://www.portenoire.co.uk

Porte Noire Unveils Petite Porte Noire Rosé Champagne

Porte Noire is proud to announce the launch of its latest masterpiece: the Petite Porte Noire Rosé Champagne.

The Petite Porte Noire Rosé Champagne is the embodiment of luxury and elegance. It is an exquisite blend crafted from 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir grapes, sourced from the prestigious Chardonnay Du Sezonnais and Pinot Noir Venteuil terroirs. Bottled in 2020, this sensational champagne undergoes meticulous aging for a minimum of 24 months in the bottle, resulting in a refined and sophisticated taste.

The vibrant raspberry and salmon hue is visually stunning, while the nose delights with bold and fruity aromas. Upon tasting, marvel in the intricate symphony of flavours, featuring subtle spice and pepper notes intertwined with the freshness of red berries. Its fine effervescence and balanced acidity create a harmonious dance on the palate, leaving a lasting impression of opulence.

Tramp Private Member's Club is the only venue in London where patrons can enjoy Petite Porte Noire Rosé Champagne throughout October. Meanwhile, those interested in adding Petite Porte Noire Rosé Champagne to their collection can now purchase it exclusively from Harvey Nichols for £54.99.

The Porte Noire name has always been synonymous with craftsmanship and innovation, and the Petite Porte Noire Rosé Champagne is no exception. Each bottle reflects their commitment to excellence, making it the perfect choice for those special moments when only the finest will suffice.

Unveiling the Carte d'Or Furoshiki: A Tale of Craftsmanship and Sustainability

A meeting of minds: Ryoko Sekiguchi, who is passionate about cooking, literature, and the role of women in the world of wine and gastronomy, met Charline Drappier during a meeting of the LA TRANSMISSION association. The group includes seven other women from Champagne, all driven by the same motivation to share and transmit the values and complexity of the region.

A dedicated admirer of Champagne Drappier for many years, Ryoko loves finding it on the menus of Japan’s best restaurants. As for Charline Drappier, she was delighted to discover Ryoko’s works and poetry, which she found particularly moving.

Ardent protectors of nature One day, a Franco-Japanese friend of Charline’s suggested that she could use a Furoshiki to wrap a bottle using a special folding technique.

Charline was already familiar with the Furoshiki technique and material, because she and her brother Hugo often wrap their Christmas gifts in these types of fabric. Perfectly suited to packaging a bottle of Champagne Drappier, the Furoshiki protects the glass without the need for paper or cardboard. As it is reusable, the material is also perfect for picnics.

As it happened, Charline was re-reading Ryoko’s book Nagori from 2022, in which she develops a truly unique idea about “sustainable” cooking, the extension of the seasons, and so on.

The connection with Ryoko’s poetry and the ancestral use of quince – one of the most characteristic flavours in DRAPPIER CARTE D’OR – was clear: she should create a FUROSHIKI for the champagne that has been Drappier’s signature for the last 70 years.

The idea also fit perfectly with the ecological journey on which the Drappier family embarked in the mid-1990s. Ryoko Sekiguchi is a writer and Japanese poet based in Paris. She inspires the reader to travel through the culinary cultures of the world. Her essay, Nagori, the nostalgia for the passing season, is an ode to postseason cuisine. Translated into six languages, the work has been a huge success.

A delicate creation by a talented pair Charline drew and painted the Furoshiki’s vibrant quince in radiant gold and green, while Ryoko wrote the text that will appear on the Champagne Drappier Carte d’Or in its new apparel. The Furoshiki is made from organic cotton poplin, printed in France at by small French Japanese designer (INSHO) and hand-sewn by people with disabilities at a medical and support organisation centre in Angers.

Because it is large (71 cm x 71 cm), it can also be used as a picnic blanket or tablecloth, or even worn as a scarf to brighten up a shirt collar or a handbag.

Paying tribute to a third woman: Micheline Drappier, Charline’s grandmother In 1952, André and Micheline Drappier created Champagne Carte d’Or, based on an idea from Micheline, who – unusually for a woman at that time – was heavily involved in all the decisions being made.

This radiant yellow colour, which has remained the same for 70 years, is a reminder of the famous quince jelly, one of the delicious flavours in this “classic brut” made of Pinot Noir (80%), Chardonnay (15%) and Pinot Meunier (5%).

Made only from first press grapes, the juice goes through its prise de mousse in a bottle specially designed for Champagne Drappier. Its refined and characteristic notes of quince and red berries, heightened with a touch of spice, make it a great partner for international dishes, as well as for fish and white meat, lightly cooked to enhance their full flavour. A temperature of 8°C will bring out its best.

The Drappier Carte d’Or champagne, wrapped in its Furoshiki will be available at independent wine merchants for £65.

Plan your wedding wine list with Aldi. And get free wedding day wine!

Newlyweds-to-be will be in with a chance of having their wedding wine absolutely free in Aldi’s newest competition which is open until 11th September.

With the average UK wedding costing nearly £20,000, Aldi is offering cheaper alternatives to help couples during the cost-of-living crisis.

Mistress of Wine, Sam Caporn gives top wedding wine tips including whether you should or shouldn’t match wine with your food.

Getting married has never been pricier, with the average wedding now costing £19,1841 and alcohol alone taking something like 10% (£1,800) of the budget.

Aldi, which is The Which? Cheapest Supermarket of the Year, says shoppers can make big savings on their big day by sourcing their wine from Aldi, which can cost as little as £2.25 per person.

Proving that you really can’t put a price on love and to celebrate these impressive savings, the discounter is offering three lucky couples ‘to be’ 60 bottles of award-winning wine to contribute to their special day – FOR ABSOLUTELY FREE!

To be in with a chance of receiving a mix of white, red and rosé wine supplied by Aldi, all budding couples need to do is send an email to aldiweddingwines@clarioncomms.co.uk with the below details:

Full name

Proof of age

Date and location of wedding

150 words explaining why you think you should receive a selection of Aldi’s wines for your wedding.

 

Sam Caporn, Mistress of Wine says: “I know myself when you’re planning a wedding, there’s so much to think about and decisions like choosing the right wines can be daunting and a bit overwhelming, especially when budgets are tight. 

"Together with Aldi, I want to show happy couples they don’t need to compromise on the quality of wine at their wedding to get a bargain and by following these few simple tips, it can be a lot easier than couples might think.”

Sam Caporn, Mistress of Wine’s I dos and don’ts of choosing wines for weddings:

Don’t try to match it with the food – A common mistake people make is focusing on matching the wine with the food when actually guests will prefer to stick to one wine throughout. Plus, the meal is very much just one part of the wedding. 

It’s better therefore to opt for easy-drinking wines, i.e. not too oaky or acidic, not too high tannin or rich. A New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (Freeman’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc £6.79, 75cl) or a soft Pinot Grigio such as Aldi’s Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie, available for just £4.49, are sure to be confirmed crowd-pleasers!

Do match the wine to the season Whether a relaxed outdoor summer gathering or an elegant indoor winter wedding, the season can drastically change what wine to serve. For a winter wedding upweight easy-drinking but well-bodied red wines such as a Shiraz (Cambalala South African Shiraz £4.75, 75cl) or Malbec-I would recommend60:40 red to whites. Whereas for summer weddings, introduce rosé into the mix (30:30 rosé to whites).

Do opt for alternatives to Champagne – Couples often assume you need champagne for their wedding toast. However, Champagne for a wedding can get very pricey. Think of fizz alternatives like a Crémant, which is a delicious alternative, this premium French fizz is made in the same style, by the same methods so you might be surprised how few people will notice the difference, especially as often bubbles are pre-poured or obscured by a white napkin. Aldi’s Specially Selected Crémant du Jura (£8.99, 75cl) is a purse-friendly alternative to luxury brands, but equally as tasty. Available in store 11th September.

Don’t splash out unnecessarily. You really don’t need to spend lots of money for a delicious wedding wine. Focus on good-quality but great-value favourites rather than expensive, premium bottles. The style of wines like Premier Crus are often not to everyone’s taste, so do focus on more approachable wines. A Spanish Rioja Reserva like Aldi’s Baron Amarillo Rioja Reserva (£5.99, 75cl) or Argentinian Malbec like the Specially Selected Argentinian Malbec (£6.59,75cl) are great choices for red wines.

But please don’t forget the non-drinkers. Whether they're a designated driver, pregnant, abstaining or just generally prefer not to drink alcohol, having fun no or low alcohol options will make everyone feel included. Aldi’s 0% sparkling, Zerozecco is just £2.99, tastes delicious and is perfect for the toast.

Entries to the competition are now open until Monday 11th September. To enter now and view the full terms and conditions, visit the Aldi Wedding Wines page on https://www.aldi.co.uk/free-wedding-wine

Make this a summer of elegant excellence with Champagne Drappier

Celebrate the warmth of summer by gifting your loved ones some Champagne Drappier.

Champagne Drappier has been crafted with passion for in excess of  two centuries, with eight generations of the Drappier family caring and loving for the Pinot Noir grape variety. It's a bottle designed to indulge.

The Cuvée Carte d’Or expresses the identity of the Drappier House: A champagne of great aromatic richness with notes of vineyard peaches, quince jelly, and a touch of spice. Ideal as an aperitif, or as an accompaniment to cheese and paprika gougères. ideal for garden soirees, a Summer of endless elegance awaits you!

Champagne Drappier Brut Nature, created by Michel Drappier, is a Blanc de Noirs with a generous yet mineral style. A robe of white gold with copper hues. A nose redolent of freshly pressed plums, redcurrants, white flowers, and citrus fruits. It is a fine, tightly knit champagne of great purity. Best served with seafood, sea asparagus smoked salmon, soft goat’s cheese, and tabouleh.

For something a little different this Summer, why not try the organic Champagne Drappier Clarevallis?

 Inspired from Clairvaux, Champagne Clarevallis (the name given by Saint Bernard to the family’s home.) is made with grapes from the organically farmed Urville hillsides. Clarevallis is the expression of both the landscape and the land that has been tended since the 12th century. Clarevallis has a golden colour with fine bubbles and tasting notes of Elderberry and violet. It is best served at 7°C for an aperitif or for a meal, with lemon and olive oil marinated zucchini carpaccio, with fresh crumbled cheese.

Make the most of the warm days and make your get-togethers extra special this Summer with a glass of Champagne Drappier. You cannot possibly go wrong!

https://www.champagne-drappier.com.

Everything's coming up Rosé!

What is it about pink champagne which makes it so special? Most people love champagne, and in particular, rosé, but have you ever considered why? Champagne Gosset, the oldest wine house in Champagne, Aÿ 1584, produces two rosés, Grand Rosé (non vintage) and Celebris Rosé (vintage), its prestige cuvée. Let’s take a look at what is so special about rosé champagne.

Why choose rosé? For a start it looks pretty in the glass and there are numerous shades of pink, ranging from the slight hint of a tint, through to strikingly dark, almost mauve in tone. Maybe rosé is particularly popular with lovers due to the colour’s associations with blushing?

Perhaps it is the depth of flavour, often reminiscent of fresh strawberries, raspberries or cherries? Brut rosé can be just as dry as its white counterpart; it is fruitier but just as good, and, by some, considered even better.

How is it made? There are two ways of producing rosé champagne; by blending in a small proportion of still red wine, or by the saignée (or ‘bleeding’) method, where the wine is simply allowed to have more contact with the red grape skins than in normal champagne production. The former method is more usual, and that is the method used by Champagne Gosset; a blend of the finest red wine from the region is added to the white champagne to produce the rosé.

Champagne Gosset’s rosés are both particularly special and ideal for all celebrations, from weddings and anniversaries, to Valentine’s Day, when sales of rosé champagnes and sparking wines tend to soar. Rosé champagne is made by blending juice from the Pinot Noir grape to the white grape juice. In the case of Grand Rosé, the balance is 35 per cent Pinot Noir, with 58 per cent Chardonnay and the remaining 7 per cent red wine made of Grand Cru Pinot Noir of the region (from the local villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay).

In the glass, Grand Rosé is a delicate pale salmon-pink, but on the nose a veritable ‘explosion’ of strawberries – fresh and the finest strawberry jam. In the mouth, it is well balanced with a voluptuous strawberry flavour giving a hint of sweetness. Retailing for around £55 a bottle, a bottle of Grand Rosé makes a very special Valentine’s gift.

Champagne Gosset Celebris 2003 Rosé Extra Brut is 68 per cent Chardonnay and 32 per cent Pinot Noir Grand Cru (also including 7 per cent red wines from Ambonnay and Bouzy). It is very dry but deliciously fruity and true to the character of all Gosset champagnes, there is no malolactic fermentation in the production process. It has a delicate, luminous pale pink hue and displays a spectacular constant stream of thousands of tiny bubbles. On the nose it is more complex than the Grand Rosé, giving fresh, pure scents of freshly picked red berry fruits, with floral notes.

A burst of rose petal jam and red berry coulis titillate the taste buds, developing into a full, rounded flavour, leaving a soothing aftertaste, with notes of aniseed and sweet liquorice, and a persistent hint of vanilla. Retailing at around £120 a bottle, Champagne Gosset Celebris 2003 Rosé is perfect for that very special occasion (or person).

Champagne Gosset is available from most independent fine wine shops and retailers including Berry Bros, Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, Harrods and Harvey Nichols. It is distributed in the UK exclusively by McKinley Vintners (Tel: 020 7928 7300 or visit http://www.mckinleyvintners.co.uk )
http://www.champagne-gosset.com