Catch Champagne Sales

Filed in archive Sparkling Wine on January 6, 2007

After the holidays is the time to scoop up the sales on all kinds of related merchandise. You'll find boxes of Christmas ornaments slashed down to as low as 50 percent off. It's even a good time to buy your tree, artificial of course, for next year. While you're out looking for post holiday bargains, don't forget about champagne. I saw this on sale all over the place, so that means it may be cut again in price as retailers try to clear shelf space.

The Austin Chronicle provides a list of bargains to look out for right now, which they consider to be some of the best bubbly:

Mumm Napa Brut Prestige ($17) is a great food wine, one worth having with a holiday dinner. There is just a hint of vanilla, with a flavor reminiscent of granny Smith apples, and nice, small bubbles.

Nicolas Feuillatte Rosé ($30) is almost as dependable a recommendation as the Gruet. Take a deep whiff, and you'll get knock-out strawberry and raspberry aromas. There's also plenty of tiny bubbles to tickle your nose.

Taittinger Brut La Française ($33) is a step up from the prior wines. It is more quietly elegant, the Nick Drake of these champagnes. It has ultrafine bubbles that feel creamy in your mouth and very subtle aromas of toast and citrus. This is the wine for a quiet conversation.

Bollinger Brut Special Cuvée ($45) is my favorite sparkling wine, regardless of price. Mostly pinot noir, and very dry, this wine is consistently the wine for people who like their champagnes toasty and with bubbles that are just slightly aggressive in cleansing your palate. In gender terms, this is the male to the Taittinger female.

Ruinart Blanc de Blancs ($50). The single greatest champagne I've ever had was a 1990 Dom Ruinart Rosé, but until I discovered this wine at the sommelier's conference, I really didn't pay much attention to the rest of the Ruinart line. For chardonnay lovers, this is the holy grail of champagnes under $100. You want lively flavors, fine and endless bubbles, and cleansing acidity? It's all here.