For the Holidays, Champagne Is Always a Hit
The holidays are upon us, and it is time to pop the Champagne! We have a fabulous selection for you this year that covers the bases from top values from our direct import grower-producers to very special bottles from the Grande Marque houses. One of my favorite Champagnes for a crowd is the Alexandre Le Brun "Tradition" Brut Champagne $34.99. Alex is a micro-producer, and has only seven acres, three-quarters of which he sells to Bollinger, keeping only 25% for himself. He makes the wine—if there is a vine that needs pruning he cuts it, if there is a wine that needs racking, he is the one dragging the hose. In fact, he only gets help twice a year, for bottling and for harvest! His tradition is one-third each Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier, all from his estate, and is aged for three years on the lees. I love the perfect balance that he achieves from his clean Meunier sourced from Sud-Épernay, combined with the more chalky and mineral fruit from the Sézanne and Chouilly. This wine has lovely baguette toast, refined citric zip and a perfect bead. If you have a big group, the Alexandre Le Brun "Tradition" Brut Champagne Magnum (1.5L) $74.99 is even better—the same blend, but with two extra years on the lees for an extra $5. If you open one, your guests WILL finish it!
One of the most amazing values in the store is the solera-style A.D. Coutelas "Cuvée Louis Victor" Brut Champagne $34.99. Made from one giant barrel or foudre, each year Damien Coutelas takes out enough for a 2000-bottle run and replaces it with the best wine he has in his cellar. It is now composed of wines from every year between 2007 and 2019! On his website he says it is a blend of one-third each of the three main Champagne grapes, but I doubt that even he knows the exact varietal composition! The result is a hint of Krug-like depth, but also wonderful freshness. They say that the old wines in the barrel “educate” the younger ones, and it sure does seem to be the case. If you like a Champagne with great brioche richness up front, but still exciting brilliance and length on the back, this is a fabulous bargain. It is the only Champagne that I know of made like this that sells for less than $100!
A classic for a reason, the Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne $84.99 will make you the hit of any party you bring it to. Composed of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 30% Meunier, this wine’s incredible delicacy and gorgeous savory red cherry fruit comes from the extreme selection for the red wine that gives it its beautiful color. They use about 5% Pinot Noir vinified red, limited to only old vines from their own village, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, and vinified in its own facility. The elegance and refinement of this rosé make it so easy to drink, but the depth is also there. What a treat!
Krug’s cellar.
If you are after one of wines top experiences in a special Champagne this season, the Krug "Grande Cuvée" 172ème Édition Brut Champagne $259.99 can stand on the table with anything from 1st Growth Bordeaux to Grand Cru Burgundy. This 172nd edition of Grande Cuvée took 25 years to make, with the youngest element coming from 2016 and the oldest going all the way back to 1998. A layered wine with not only nutty complexity but also an almost Puligny-Montrachet-like lime character, this is not just great Champagne, but a world class wine. The near infinite, expansive, peacock’s tail finish is one of the wonders of the vinous world.
A toast to you!