Your Favourite Champagne under $50 USD / $80 AUD

[El Presidente]

Your Favourite Champagne under $50 USD / $80 AUD?

I was asked this question earlier today and from the hip said Pol Roger NV but it is getting harder to find under 80 AUD on a regular basis. 

 

Help us out as we come into the Christmas period. 

Your Favourite Champagne under $50 USD / $80 AUD?

 

[JohnS]

For under $50 USD/$80 AUD my favourite would be Lanson Le Black Label Brut.

However, Lanson may be easier to acquire in Australia than in the USA. My next favourite therefore, which would be fairly easy to find in the US and still be around that price range, is Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne NV.

[gustavehenne]

For under, $50 I'd go straight to one of the following:

Veuve Clicquot NV - a pinot noir dominated blend that I find is the best entry-level big-name champagne. I get strawberries and wild raspberries from it and could drink this like water.

The Wine Society's NV Champagne - it's not as complex as others but this is lemon cheesecake for me. A beautiful brut wine that just keeps giving. It also has a beautiful baked bread character that is more pronounced than other champagnes. From memory (and depending on the final blend) it has fairly equal blends of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with some Pinot Meunier supporting it. Beautiful.

[SirVantes]

Premier cru blanc de blanc from a respected grower-producer.  Can't ask for anything more at USD50.

 

[Frinkiac7]

Before I clicked on the thread I said Pol Roger NV

[BrightonCorgi]

Hands down at $50 would be Andre Jaquart Exprience BdB without a doubt!  Lanson & Henriot are good for easier to find houses.

 

[Edicion]

Sorry not from Champagne or even France but what an amazing wine. As good as or better 40/50$ wines imo. Franciacorta.

[Tdm_86]

I’m unsure how available it is in the rest of the world, but I really like what De Saint-Gall does. Premier- and even Grand Cru for around 40 - 45 euros. 

I’m especially fond of their Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru extra brut

[TheGipper]

+1 on the Lanson.

Fairly easy to find in the US, if you have a Total Wine near you, they usually have it.

[jakebarnes]

 

Pierre Moncuit Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut

[Low]

I prefer the selection at my nicest 7/11, you can even buy the perfect pairing one isle over for $15 total 

[MrBirdman]

An excellent value from a great grower family. You can learn more about them in the documentary “A Year in Champagne.”

[hawkeye5050]

From a small American family grower found in larger US stores (Total/Binnys) grab an Iron Horse Classic Brut or Wedding Cuvee under $50 US. If you like a 'Brut Nature' try and find their Brut X. It is fantastic!

[LOMTL]

Nice staples that work for me.

[Lamboinee]

As it happens, my wife and I have recently started trying a lot of different champagne and sparkling whites.  Although not technically champagne, I really enjoy Chandon Brut for about $20.00/US a bottle.  Also, the Chandon Etoile is excellent and can sometimes be found for $50/bottle through the Chandon Monthly subscription club.  Otherwise, I'll second @stevenhaugen with the Veuve or @SirVantes with the Pierre.  I'm going to use all of these suggestions to guide my next champagne purchases. Thanks to all.

 

@stevenhaugen

[frenchkiwi]

My tip - Cremant de Bourgogne can be found at a lower pricepoint circa $USD 20 with similar quality to entry-level champagnes but minus the markup for the more famous AOC.

[Kaptain Karl]

8 hours ago, hawkeye5050 said:

From a small American family grower found in larger US stores (Total/Binnys) grab an Iron Horse Classic Brut or Wedding Cuvee under $50 US. If you like a 'Brut Nature' try and find their Brut X. It is fantastic!

HA!!!!!!

This makes me so happy. Iron Horse is located right across the small valley where I grew up and my family is horribly irresponsible iron horse consumers. We used to go there every weekend and drink WAY too much sparkling. GREAT sparkling wine!! Brut X is my favorite non seasonal sparkling from them. Insanely dry and delicious!!!

I forgot the wife and I took our engagement pictures there too! Very near and dear to my heart! 
 

 

This has been consistently excellent for me! Pol Roger is $55-60 now while this is $49 (Whole Foods sells it for $67 of course)

[Ken Gargett]

you guys get larmandier and charles H NV for under $50? charles at its cheapest here about $100. and larmandier's most basic pushing that.

[BrightonCorgi]

3 minutes ago, Ken Gargett said:

you guys get larmandier and charles H NV for under $50? charles at its cheapest here about $100. and larmandier's most basic pushing that.

That's what I was thinking.  Both great houses, but under $50 is really savvy shopping.  CH NV is $55 in the best case scenario. 

I've bought at least a case of this one.  One of the best deals if you live in the States.  Throwing a bone to my fellow American members.  One of my main sources for Champagne.

https://www.esow.com/wines/Charles-Heidsieck-Rose-Special-edition-Base-2005-w7162622i0

[Ken Gargett]

1 minute ago, BrightonCorgi said:

That's what I was thinking.  Both great houses, but under $50 is really savvy shopping.  CH NV is $55 in the best case scenario. 

I've bought at least a case of this one.  One of the best deals if you live in the States.  Throwing a bone to my fellow American members.  One of my main sources for Champagne.

https://www.esow.com/wines/Charles-Heidsieck-Rose-Special-edition-Base-2005-w7162622i0

yes, agree.

CH for that sort of money is fabulous. one of the great NVs. only caveat is try and avoid the NV which has 16 as the base. it is a real dip in comparison to what they had been offering. the NV based on 08 (got a couple of magnums) was better than most other vintage champers. 

[Fuzz]

Champagne Drappier 1er Cru Brut NV

 

Champagne Autreau Grand Cru Vintage

 

Pommery Brut Royal

 

Joseph Perrier Cuvee Royale

 

Charles Orban Blanc de Blancs

 

Tsarine Cuvee Premium Brut

[Lamboinee]

This was one we tried for the first time on Halloween. It was solid. Right at $50 Us. Perrier Jouet Grand Brut.

[Tstew75]

I have 3:

• Diebolt-Vallois Brut Blanc de Blancs À Cramant N/V
• Gaston Chiquet Brut Tradition N/V
• L Aubry Fils 1er Cru Brut N/V

Grower Fizz makes the World go round for me

[Lamboinee]

1 hour ago, Tstew75 said:

Grower Fizz

??? 'splain it to me please.

[Tstew75]

23 minutes ago, Lamboinee said:

??? 'splain it to me please.

'Grower' Champagne houses are the family-owned & operated counterpoints to the large conglomerate/négociant houses like Veuve, Feuillatte,Taittinger, etc. The thought process is that produce superior products with more terroir (sense of place), and typically farm with much more care for the land. Here's a couple of articles (both mentioning the great Michael Skurnik) explaining some finer points:

https://www.skurnik.com/producer-and-place-champagne-today/

https://daily.sevenfifty.com/tracing-the-origin-story-of-grower-champagne/