Champagne Reviews, Best Champagne

Best value, sparkling wine

Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut NV

Reviews say it's easy to mistake the California-made Roederer Estate NV Brut for fine French Champagne, partly because it's made using techniques developed by top French producer Louis Roederer. Experts say this wine's… bouquet of cherry and apple gives way to flavors of citrus and spice. Adding to its appeal are wide availability, low price and a long finish.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Wine Spectator: In this year-end wrap-up, Fish extols the quality of American sparkling wines. He includes Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut ...

Wine Review Online: McCarthy, author of Champagne for Dummies and several other titles in the "Dummies" series, suggests non-vintage, reasonably ...

Slate.com: In this roundup of non-vintage Champagnes, Steinberger identifies some winners, which include Roederer Brut Premier and Roederer ...

San Francisco Chronicle: Editors list sparkling wines that earned 2.5 stars or more in 2007. Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut NV earned three stars.

The New York Times: Asimov and company taste 25 American sparkling wines, which are fruitier and more "crowd-pleasing" than true Champagne. Roederer ...

Wine.com: This wine e-tailer lets you sort Champagne and other sparkling wines by combined ratings in major wine publications. Roederer ...

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Pacific Wine Merchants

for $25.99

Best inexpensive bubbly

Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut NV

*Est. $15 Compare Prices

If you're looking for an elegant Champagne-style wine for less than $20, reviews for Gloria Ferrer NV Brut outclass others in this price range. Critics say Ferrer Brut is fresh and full of juicy acidity and fruity… flavors. Although it's not as complex as the more expensive Roederer Estate Brut, critics agree that it's tough to find a better Champagne-style bubbly for the price.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Wine Spectator: Wine Spectator awards Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut NV 90 points out of 100, calling it "a delicious mouthful of bubbly, with creamy ...

ConsumerReports.org: Editors rate 23 sparkling wines, including Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut NV, but none receive a rating of "excellent" due to ...

Epicurious: Beckett provides an overview of Champagne's history and production and lists six top sparkling wines. The least expensive is ...

MSNBC: Wine Spectator executive editor Thomas Matthews offers tips on buying Champagnes as well as specific recommendations. Gloria ...

Corkd.com: Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut earns an average score of 86.4 out of 100 in a small number of user reviews. Several reviewers call ...

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Grand Wine Cellar

for $23.99

Skyview Wine & Liquors

for $15.99

Liquor Outlet Wine Cellars

for $15.45

Best value, French Champagne

Nicolas Feuillatte Brut NV

*Est. $30 Compare Prices

The best wine reviews say that Nicolas Feuillatte is an especially reliable Champagne producer. Feuillatte non-vintage Champagne is said to be light-bodied, with hints of peach and citrus. Reviews say that this lively,… festive wine can be drunk now, but will develop even further if kept in a cellar for a year or so. Furthermore, this Champagne a good value.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

The New York Times: The New York Times' expert panel sampled 25 Champagnes with a price ceiling of $30. Eric Asimov considers Nicolas Feuillatte ...

Wine Review Online: McCarthy briefly mentions Nicolas Feuillatte Brut NV, saying that it is a "light, elegant" Champagne that's ideal alongside hors ...

WineAccess.com: Most reviewers call Nicolas Feuillatte Brut NV well priced. It's said to be toasty, but the mousse (the foam on top) is said to ...

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Pacific Wine Merchants

for $25.99

ShopRite Wines and Spirit

for $28.99

BacchusWine- Online.com

for $28.99

Best special-occasion Champagne

Charles Heidsieck 1995 Blanc des Millénaires

*Est. $100 Compare Prices

If you're looking for a world-class Champagne to drink now (as opposed to buying Champagne for a cellar), reviews say Charles Heidsieck 1995 Blanc des Millénaires is perfectly aged and the best bet in its price class.… This chardonnay-only Champagne is creamy, with flavors of honeycomb, flowers, bread and minerals. Reviews say that its complexity, structure and lingering finish give it the edge over the competition.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

The New York Times: A panel of experts, including two writers for The New York Times and two leading sommeliers, tasted 25 blanc de blancs ...

Wine Review Online: McCarthy, author of Champagne for Dummies, highly recommends Charles Heidsieck 1995 Blanc des Millénaires in the vintage or ...

Food & Wine Magazine: In his roundup of the year's top wines, Isle includes one Champagne: 1995 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires. He says that ...

TheWineDoctor.com: Kissack, a member of the Circle of Wine Writers, calls the Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millènaires 1995 a "very vinous, ...

Wine.com: A single reviewer has posted a very brief but enthusiastic review of the 1995 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires.

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Internation- al Wine Shop

for $96.29

Best value, sparkling rosé

Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rosé NV

*Est. $25 Compare Prices

Although critics complain that they're less complex than traditional sparkling wines, the fruity flavors and delicate pink hues of rosé sparklers have contributed to their growing popularity. But while they look pretty,… pink sparkling wines don't necessarily taste better or even very different than regular varieties. Schramsberg Brut Rosé is light salmon in color, and tastes of berries, figs and ginger, according to reviews.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Wine Spectator: Editors blind-taste 90 American-made sparkling wines, including Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rosé NV, and report that an ...

Food & Wine Magazine: There's no preamble here, just a list of top sparkling wines and descriptions of their characteristics. Isle says that ...

Wine.com: One consumer has posted a positive review of Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rosé NV. Hopefully, more opinions will be added, so it's ...

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