Champagnes being available in a wide variety such as grape variety, Cuvee, vintage and non-vintage variations make it a difficult task. The non-vintage champagnes use several types of grapes, such as Chardonnay with apple fruit, pinot noir with red grapes, and the blanc de blanc with only white grapes.
Researching about the grapes beforehand pays off when you are purchasing the Champagne. You can learn about the style of any champagne by doing some tasting tastes according to your preference. You can choose from a selection of fresh and floral, bready wines or wines that use oak in the making process.
With the holiday season around the corner, there is no shortage of available selection of champagnes for celebrating the good times and making moments memorable. Here is the exotic collection of 5 of the best champagnes that you may gift as Christmas presents.
1. The Dom Perignon Vintage 2008
Dom Perignon does not require any introduction and its heritage of elegant craftsmanship in making the champagne makes it a top choice for champagne lovers. Dom Perignon is the ideal choice if you prefer to purchase vintage champagne.After a legacy spanning three decades, Richard Geoffrey steps down as chef de cave at Dom Perignon, and his final vintage release is getting exceptional reviews. The 2008 wine is one of a kind as it requires a longer time to open up than other releases.
The champagne issues a blend of white flowers, stone fruit, and citrus in the opening and gives way to spicy, roasted and woody notes. The freshness of crushed mint and aniseed accentuates the flavour and keeps it crisp. The champagne exudes an intricate balance of aroma and flavour.
The champagne enjoys a duality of spiciness and freshness, making it a suitable accompaniment to various food. The overall taste of the champagne is a creamy and decadent flavour with notes of berries, white flowers, and toasted pastry.
2. Roger Barnier L'oubliée Solera Champagne, Wanderlust Wines.
The Roger Barnier comes from an independent family house, and it is grower champagne dating back to five generations. They have a long history of aged vines with their earliest fruit, making wine stretching back to before the first world war.Wanderlust wines use an extremely traditional technique of champagne production using wooden presses and the absence of cellar work. The result is that although the brioche notes are less prominent, the wine can undergo plenty of ageing.
Roger Barnier champagne is a solera that mixes the older wines' sophisticated tones with the vibrant and fresh newer generation. The overall flavours of the Champagne are exciting and boast sophistication.
3. Krug Grande Cuvee Brut, 167th edition.
Krug Grande Cuvee is one of the most iconic and outstanding champagnes in history, and it ages majestically. The Grande Cuvee from Brut is technically a bottle of non-vintage Champagne, and it is perfect for you if you prefer rounder flavours in your Champagne. The bottle is rich with the essence of citrus and stone fruit with a hint of chocolate and spice.The production of Krug Grande Cuvee utilizes the fusion of 140 wines from 13 different years, with the oldest spanning back to 1998. You can experience several layers of flavours, starting from peaches, honey, mango, and ginger with a salty finish, terrific verve, and a smoky overlay.
Krug Grande Cuvee is a blend of 36 percent Chardonnay, 47 percent pinot noir, and 17 percent of Meunier. The bottle has a Krug id on its long neck, which allows the user to scan on a Krug app to access information regarding the history of the bottle.
4. Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut, 2011
Champagne Bollinger has an appealing golden colour with an exquisite profusion of tiny bubbles pricing a bubbly fizz. The champagne offers notes of fresh apple with a creamy mouthfeel and a lasting dry finish.
Bollinger is the official champagne brand of James Bond, and it is a perfect accompaniment with cheese plates of seafood. The bottle has notes of creme brulee, subtle baking spice, and red currant. The champagne has a unique style that fuses vigour, freshness, and toasty richness.
5. Champagne Henriot Blanc De Blancs
The Champagne Henriot is a regal blanc de blanc style and is the official royal supplier of the Austrian Imperial and royal court. The champagne bottle consists entirely of Chardonnay and has zippy, bright fruit flavours cut short by just enough crisp minerality. The sparkling wine is ideal to partner with oysters and fresh shellfish as it has a tinge of honey and pastry flavours. The selection process can be tricky if you want to buy a nice supermarket variety on your wallet or splurge on luxurious, expensive bottles. Suppose you do not want to invest an exorbitant amount in gifting Champagne. In that case, you can consider the Totts champagne Brut California which provides incredible value for a fraction of the cost.
Conclusion
Champagne is a liquid luxury, and the fastest way to find a bottle of world-class Champagne is to avoid flashy marketing and instead focus on the quality of the product. Along with the effect of serving Champagne in elegant flutes or coupes, Champagne has the unique ability to emphasize everything from turkey and caviar to truffles and cakes.Champagne is a fabulous gift, and whether your contribution to an office colleague or your dear friend, the selection process makes all the difference in getting the perfect champagne. Champagnes are also the ideal accompaniment with you for a romantic dinner or for sipping to celebrate a special occasion.
Ensure you serve the champagne at a temperature between 8 and 10-degree Celsius to release the best flavours. It is also preferable to serve in a champagne flute which aids in relishing the flavour and aroma of the drink. A champagne bottle stopper helps stop the bubbles from escaping if you plan to consume the champagne over a few days.
