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Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Particuliere NV
Best value, French Champagne
- Good value
- Complex fruit, nut and citrus notes
- Comparable to expensive Champagnes
- Nonvintage
- More expensive than other domestic sparkling wines
Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Particulière NV is one of the least expensive Champagnes we found with positive reviews. It is also the most highly recommended, with a score of 92 from Wine Spectator and 14 out of 20 from Gayot.com. Most reviewers note this wine's excellent value, with Epicurious.com and Food & Wine naming it the best value pick for a true Champagne.
In part, Nicolas Feuillatte accomplishes this value by mixing wines of different vintages to ensure a consistent quality, making this a nonvintage wine. While some connoisseurs look down on nonvintage wines, they make wines such as Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Particuliere NV a good value. The flavor of this wine is predominantly that of white fruits, with an almond or hazelnut flavor. Some tasters also remark on the floral opening notes.
Our Sources
Wine Spectator taster Alison Napjus (who tastes all Champagnes for WS) gives the Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Particulière NV 92 points, the highest Wine Spectator score of any of our picks. Wine Spectator scores are assessed by only one reviewer, and all tastings are blind. Napjus says the wine is rich and creamy, with "fruit, nut and spice notes of fruitcake." The wine also boasts a clean, citrus flavor, like lemon meringue.
Review: Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Particuliere , Alison Napjus
Nicolas Feuilatte Blue Label (now Brut Reserve Particuliere NV) is named one of five affordable sparkling wines and is the only true champagne on the list. The authors don't offer additional details on the wines not selected for the top five, though. The authors say this Champagne is comparable to more expensive options like Piper-Heidsieck, Veuve Clicquot, Laurent-Perrier and Moet & Chandon.
Review: Top 5 Affordable Sparkling Wines, Linda Murphy and James Oliver Cury
3. Gayot
In this list of Champagnes under $40, Nicolas Feuillatte Reserve Particuliere NV is listed first, though it's unclear if the wines are ranked in any particular order. The editors at Gayot.com give the wine a score of 14 out of 20, or good. Gayot.com explains that its standards are very stringent, and it is exceedingly rare for a wine to rank over 19. Gayot.com mentions the Champagne's opening floral notes.
Review: Top 10 Budget Champagnes, Gayot.com editors, Nov. 28, 2011
Ray Isle names Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Particuliere NV the best bet for an affordable Champagne. He doesn't offer much detail though, as he then goes on to list other inexpensive sparkling wines.
Review: Value Champagne, Ray Isle, Nov. 2011
5. About.com
About.com wine guide Stacy Slinkard calls the Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Particuliere NV a good go-to Champagne for the holiday season. She refers to it as a top pick, value-priced Champagne. Slinkard doesn't compare the wine to others on our list though, and she doesn't detail her tasting method (About.com does note the wine was provided for sampling for free). (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Wine of the Week: Nicholas Feuillatte "Blue Label" Brut Champagne (FR) $30, Stacy Slinkard, Dec 27, 2010
6. Wine.com
The Nicholas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Particuliere NV receives about 10 reviews and averages about 4 stars. Some reviewers note that, for the price, they prefer comparable domestic sparkling wine, though none says they truly dislike this wine. Many praise it, saying it's on par with more expensive Champagnes. Almost all reviewers note that this wine is an excellent value for a true Champagne.
Review: Nicholas Feuillatte "Blue Label" Brut , Reviewers at Wine.com, As of Dec. 2011
Nicolas Feuilatte's website is a good source of general information on this Champagne. It includes pairing recommendations as well as information on bottling and aging. This wine is made from a blend of 40 percent Pinot Noir, 20 percent Chardonnay and 40 percent Pinot Meunier grapes. It is aged 3 years and has flavors of apple, pear, almond and hazelnut. According to the website, it appears that the name of this wine has changed, though based on tasting notes and bottling information from other sites, the wine itself is the same.
Review: Brut Reserve Particuliere, Nicolas Feuillatte