What is Maison 76 Champagne?

Maison 76 is K&L Wine Merchants' first house Champagne, created to celebrate the retailer's 50th anniversary. It is a Côte des Blancs Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs with rich texture and leesy character, offering notes of toast and brioche.

What is the best Champagne under $100?

The 2017 Launois Helia Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs at $74.99 is one of the most elegant Champagnes available under $100. Previously reserved for Launois' Special Club offering, it held its own at a tasting alongside Roederer Cristal.

A Spirits Guy's Guide to Champagne: 4 Bottles Worth Knowing Now

K&L Culver City Spirits Specialist Jonathan Parnell is recommending his favorite in-stock Champagnes

Greetings! My name is Jonathan Parnell and I'm the Spirits Specialist at K&L Culver City. Champagne isn't my home turf — that belongs to Gary Westby and Philip Roufail — but spending time behind the counter pouring and learning from them has changed how I think about bubbles entirely. Here are five bottles that have genuinely surprised me, from $34.95 to a splurge worth every penny.

K&L's Own—50 Years in the Making

Maison 76 Côte des Blancs Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne $44.99 This is K&L's first house Champagne, made to celebrate 50 years of bringing customers great value. Rich with texture and leesy character, this Champagne will surprise you and your guests with the depth of notes of toast and brioche. At the last Champagne tasting, a prominent wine instructor was so impressed that they purchased bottles to bring back to their class.

Best Rosé Under $50

A.D. Coutelas Brut Rosé Champagne $49.99 ($34.99 Wine Club) Half the Pinot Noir is macerated into red wine before blending, giving this extraordinary depth of red fruit. Older reserves aged in wood foudres via solera method add body and balance. Deep garnet color, fresh crisp nose with a hint of pine, then a full palate of cherry, cranberry, and rhubarb — tart, fine-bubbled, and long. Pairs with fish, cheese plates, Mediterranean food, or frankly anything. An exceptional value, especially for Wine Club members.

The One That Held Its Own Against Cristal

Winemaker Severine Launois holding a bottle of Helia Champagne at the K&L Champagne Tent Event — Winemaker Severine Launois holding a bottle of Helia at K&L’s Hollywood Champagne Tent Event.

2017 Launois "Helia" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne $74.99 This stood out at a tasting that also featured Roederer Cristal. Previously reserved for Launois' Special Club offering, it's now available on its own — and it's the most elegant Champagne under $100 I can think of. Bright, fresh, precise. Like fireflies dancing around the palate. Reach for this for any special occasion.

The Splurge—Worth Every Penny

2014 Taittinger "Comtes de Champagne" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne $229.99 97VN 96DC 96WA 96WS 95JD I had the chance to try the 2013 vintage after our Personal Sommelier tasting, where we featured examples of wines that our somms can recommend for you to pour or to build your collection. I have never had a Champagne like it—ethereal citrus notes and perfect synchronicity with the bubbles. The 2014 is in stock now. If you want to understand what prestige cuvée Champagne is actually about, this is the bottle.

Join Us

We have Champagne tastings coming up across all locations—and our grand Champagne tent event is in October. Come pour with us.

- Jonathan Parnell, K&L Culver City Spirits Specialist (and Champagne Enthusiast)