The Best Supermarket Champagnes Of 2018, According To Wine Experts
ALDI:
Veuve Monsigny Brut Champagne, £11.99
Aldi says: A bestseller and highly acclaimed award-winner from the small, consistently excellent champagne house Philizot & Fils. This blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier has been aged in cellars to enhance its complexity, elegance and length.
Decanter says: Often seen below £10 (keep a look out just before Christmas), this is always one of the best-value supermarket champagnes, offering appealing apple crumble characters of ripe Granny Smiths, spiced biscuits, nuts and fresh yeastiness. Firm and bright with a soft mousse.
LIDL:
Comte de Senneval NV Brut Champagne, £11.99
Lidl says: Given the high cost of making champagne, one would not expect it to be available at this price. Particularly as the wine itself has an attractive mix of citrus and biscuity flavours, leading to a clean, dry finish. Perfectly respectable and ideal for current drinking.
Decanter says: An excellent buy for a wine showing perfect maturity now. Lovely autolytic notes of biscuit and toast join creamy lemon, crisp apple fruit and lifted blossom on the palate.
SAINSBURY’S:
Taste The Difference NV Brut Champagne, £18
Sainsbury’s says: This blend of premium chardonnay, pinot meunier and pinot noir grapes from the most highly-regarded vineyards delivers enticing floral aromas and notes of fresh peach and buttered toast. It’s supremely elegant, with fine bubbles and a lovely fresh finish. Reims to add finesse and impart the characteristic toasty biscuit notes.
Decanter says: Salty, nutty notes are joined by intense green apple fruit on the nose. A green cooking apple character on the palate sits alongside roasted nuts and a lively acid backbone. It has a wonderful vibrancy that makes this a useful aperitif option.
TESCO:
Finest Premier Cru Champagne, £19
Tesco says: Made from chardonnay and pinot noir grapes with extra-long ageing in the bottle. This extra maturation makes for elegant flavours of citrus, apple and brioche with a fine mousse.
Decanter says: This premier cru champagne has been aged for up to 36 months on its lees, giving a rich, yeasty, brioche character to the baked apple fruit. It’s intense and creamy, with more than a hint of tarte-tatin and marzipan. Not the cheapest supermarket option, but you get a touch of class for your money.
ASDA:
Louis Bernard 2007 Vintage Brut Champagne, £19 (was £24)
Asda says: This champagne has spent at least five years maturing in cellars, resulting in a rich, elegant and fine vintage. Produced by champagne house Chanoine Frères, it’s the perfect match to seafood and smoked salmon.
Decanter says: Made from a blend of 43% pinot meunier, 30% chardonnay and 27% pinot noir, this punches well above its weight. It offers excellent toasty complexity for the price, boasting ripe yellow apple fruit and round nutty characters, matched with brisk balancing citrus acidity.
WAITROSE:
NV Brut Champagne, £19.99
Waitrose says: Round and fruity with gentle toasty notes, and a zing from the chardonnay. Fantastic value and perfect as a celebratory apéritif.
Decanter says: Fruit-forward and complex with good weight. The palate has apple fruit flavours and a well-integrated mousse. A good party champagne and extremely good value.
CO-OP:
Les Pionniers 2008 Vintage Brut Champagne, £25.99
Co-op says: Used to toast the departure of James Martin on Saturday Kitchen. This award-winning vintage champagne out-tastes many a top grand marque.
Decanter says: A rich, detailed wine that’s just starting to develop vanilla-honey notes, flashes of hazelnut and agrume and a tiny fungus element underneath. Dark berries float over the top of the fine bubbles and long, resonant palate.
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