Recommendations Please - Sparkling Wine

[Adair]

Hello All,

Could I please get your recommendations for:

1) Best Australian Bubbly less than $25 RRP (but probably available for less than $20 on special) - NV preferred:

2) Best Australian Vintage Bubbly less than $35 RRP:

3) Best Non Vintage Champagne for less than $100 RRP, and available in Australia of course:

Many thanks,
Adair

[Guest]

Adair,

Can't help you on Q 1 & 2.

As to Q 3, I recommend, not in any particular order -

Charles Heidsieck 'mis en cave' followed by the year it was assembled.

Billecart-Salmon

Bollinger

Roederer (London Phil reassures me it's in good form)

Gosset - haven't tried this but been hearing some good things about it on the boards of late.

Hope this helps,

[Guest]

The above was from yours truly,

Forgot to log in, again

david lole

[JohnD]

1. Seaview Pinot chardonnay ( vintage)
also the Yarra Burn is quite good and Chandon have several inc Brut NV

2. Chandon Vintage Brut was once known as LD ( Late Disgorged) Chandon Cuvee Riche, Croser, Janz

3. So many to choose from, Veuve Cliquot is a fav.

[Adam]

Adair,

Is this a strick theme or can NZ bubbles be introduced, eg Deutz?

[Adair]

1. Seaview Pinot chardonnay ( vintage)
also the Yarra Burn is quite good and Chandon have several inc Brut NV

2. Chandon Vintage Brut was once known as LD ( Late Disgorged) Chandon Cuvee Riche, Croser, Janz

3. So many to choose from, Veuve Cliquot is a fav.

John,

Thanks for your choices. I have not had the Seaview yet and despite reading that it is quite a good bubbly from a number of sources, I still can't get over the fact that a Seaview bubbly could really be worth drinking. I am obviously going to have to get over it!

Thanks,
Adair

[Adair]

Adair,

Is this a strick theme or can NZ bubbles be introduced, eg Deutz?

Hello Adam,

Although I encourage other suggestions (we can all learn from others and take up or let pass suggestions), I would also appreciate answers that meet my "theme". The initiation of this post came over the weekend from friends who own a small restaurant, knowing that I am a bit of a wine wanker and thinking that I would confidently recommend bubblies like I do still wines, asking what I would suggest they have on their wine list. To their surprise I did not answer their question with the enthusiasm expected. So, as I do love bubblies and over the past month or so have been spending a greater percentage of my funds on the stuff for enjoyment and education (not mtually exclusive of course), I thought I should find out what forumites like best and continue investigating from there.

FYI, the restaurant has Chandon NV as their house wine, I forgot their vintage Australian bubbly but are thinking about getting Yarrabank in, and Moet & Chandon NV is their Champagne.

With regard to the Deutz, I have read numerous good reviews, including one from the illustrious Attila, and only one negative. This is definitely on my list of soon-to-be purchases.

Kind regards,
Adair

[radioactiveman]

3) Best Non Vintage Champagne for less than $100 RRP, and available in Australia of course

Adair,

Went to a bubbly tasting on the weekend. Enjoyed the Billicart, Pol Roger and Moet, not a big fan of Bollinger (had a vegetal aroma I likened to mulched leaves) and the Veuve was OK, but my absolute favourite was the Gosset NV. It has the yeastiness that I love in Champagne but a lovely fruitiness as well and doesn't finish too dry. Billicart was my next favourite of the NV's. Hope this helps a bit.

Cheers
Jamie

[Adam]

In my view, I would stick with the big names for the champagne, although IMO there are better quality for lower prices from the smaller marques, Moet et Chandon certainly has the name cache that most of the general public want when buying a champagne, and the quality is generally consistent.

I cant really comment on the Aussie sparklers as I havent really drank enough, but I have enjoyed the Chandon vintage sparkling rose previously, cant recall which vintage.

What kind of food?

[Adair]

In my view, I would stick with the big names for the champagne, although IMO there are better quality for lower prices from the smaller marques, Moet et Chandon certainly has the name cache that most of the general public want when buying a champagne, and the quality is generally consistent.

I cant really comment on the Aussie sparklers as I havent really drank enough, but I have enjoyed the Chandon vintage sparkling rose previously, cant recall which vintage.

What kind of food?

Hello Adam,

Although I don't intend to make the question food dependant, the restaurant is Modern Australian with a French slant.

Thanks,
Adair

[Phil Shorten]

Hi

Off the bigger houses, Roederer and Bollinger are about the only two that do it for me, though Bolly can be quite yeasty/oaky and needs food to show its best. I was quite impressed by Laurent Perrier's offering I tasted last week - have found it a bit of a lightweight in the past, but this one was very decent.

IMHO, standard Moet is very average indeed, and Lanson (often heavily discounted here) is backward, very lemon citrus. Many people in the UK bag it as it is quite austere and doesn't have the time on lees to develop some of the yeasty character and soften the wine, but it is supposed to age quite well.

As others have mentioned, the Billcart-Salmon is very good, and I am a particular fan of their Rose - beats the Laurent Perrier hands down.

As to Aussie sparklers, I think the Yarrabank stands out for quality and value for money - plenty of finesse. Croser can age pretty well, and the Ashton Hills Salmon Brut is an interesting wine.

Cheers
Phil

[Andy]

For mine

1. Yarra Burn NV is a fantastic sparkling wine for the price.

2. Pirie or Yarrabank for the Vintage. Haven't had much experience with the Croser.

3. For champagne, the ones I love are (in order) Pol Roger, Billiecart Salmon and Louis Roederer. I find Moet and Bollinger not to my taste at all and heavily over priced.

As an interesting alternative, Safeway have a NV champagne, Pol Gessner in stock at around $30 ($24 with the 20% discount for 6 bottles). Thoroughly good stuff for the price.

Cheers

Andy

[Mark K]

1) Best Australian Bubbly less than $25 RRP (but probably available for less than $20 on special) - NV preferred:

I like the Yarra Burn at sub $20, Seaview Pinot Chard Vintage and Sir James Vintage.

2) Best Australian Vintage Bubbly less than $35 RRP:

Have been enjoying the Coldstream Hills bubbles of late, quite yeasty and heavy on the Pinot, a bit of a Bollie/Roederer impersonator. The Yarrabank, Red Hill, Logan, Bay of Fires and Mountadam have been faves in the past.

1)3) Best Non Vintage Champagne for less than $100 RRP

Roederer NV, Laurent Perrier Rose NV, Bolinger NV, Heidsieck Mis en Cave, Billiecart NV, Gosset NV and Lanson Black label

Mark K

[Blake]

Seppelt Salinger (vintage) is consistently good for under $25

If you were going to spend any more than that I'd go straight up to Louis Roederer NV or Billecart Salmon NV. Both are very fine drinks with little to choose between them.

[Guest]

Do try to the 1996 recently disgorged Chandon from australia. It's a really nice one! Nice golden yellow in color with nice buscuity kick. It's really nicely priced as well.