Holiday Shopping Guide: 13 Great Luxe Champagnes
Festive and bright, who can deny bubblies at this time of year? But for 2010, don't think just New Year's Eve, think Twelve Days of Christmas, and you can toast each of the twelve days with the true Breakfast of Champions: Champagne. The following Vintage Champagnes cannot be beat; some have pedigree that you'll have heard of before; some will be new to you, and that's part of their appeal, and some will be pink. Each will be a perfect companion for daily holiday breakfast or brunch.
Here, then is a list of favorites in order of price-certainly not in order of quality.
Henriot Cuvée des Enchanteleurs 1996
Some say this is the freshest of Champagnes; that just might be true. Its aromas are fresh fruit, with a touch of caramel and spice ($125).
Billecart-Salmon 1990 Grande Cuvée.
Its tight, slowly rising bubbles brings out this wine's toast and red fruit aromas, followed in the taste by full-bodied power and a lengthy finish ($125).
Gosset 1998 Célébris
The toasty aroma is followed here by cherry and citrus zest in a bracing, racy structure that finishes almost never ($125).
Nicolas Feuillate Palmes d'Or Brut 1999
White flowers and honeysuckle aromas start this off and end with a powerful, clean, lengthy finish ($130).
Vranken 1999 Diamant Blanc Millesime
Delicate pear and apple blossoms come forth and the structure is equally delicate, as is the cool, crisp finish ($140).
G.H. Mumm 1998 Brut (R Lalou Cuvée Prestige)
From Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, this is a deep, full bubbly with yeasty aromas and an endless finish ($150).
Philipponnat Clos des Goisses 1999 Brut
Mostly Pinot Noir, this is a single-vineyard Champagne. It's amber and with a hint of rose petals as well as almonds, plus it has a refreshingly mineral character ($155).
Moët & Chandon 2002 Dom Pérignon
This familiar thirst quencher delivers dried fruit flavors and finishes off with toasty yeast, the way Champagnes of old always did ($200).
Perrier-Jouët Fleur de Champagne Rosé 2002
Strawberries and more strawberries are presented here, with delicate balance and a clean finish ($299).
Dom Ruinart Rosé 1996
This is a wine of delicate, red fruit aromas with the taste of licorice and citrus. Its finish is like a spice island ($325).
Salon 1997 Blanc de Blancs
Perfumed with smoky, yeasty aromas and tasting like minerals and flowers, this wine has great depth to it ($330).
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Brut Rosé 2003
Strawberries appear here, too, but with an added lemon zest and undertow of yeastiness for a most complex bubbly ($350).
If you're sorry that the twelve days have gone by, and you need one more burst of bubbling joy, try Krug.
Krug 1996 Clos d'Amonnay
There's a hint of your grandmother's closet in the aroma and the flavor of lemon/citrus in the taste. It finishes like something from one of those mineral rich streams that bottled water boasts about. The wine is powerful and delightful ($2,250).
The toasty aroma is followed here by cherry and citrus zest in a bracing, racy structure that finishes almost never ($125).
Nicolas Feuillate Palmes d'Or Brut 1999
White flowers and honeysuckle aromas start this off and end with a powerful, clean, lengthy finish ($130).
Vranken 1999 Diamant Blanc Millesime
Delicate pear and apple blossoms come forth and the structure is equally delicate, as is the cool, crisp finish ($140).
G.H. Mumm 1998 Brut (R Lalou Cuvée Prestige)
From Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, this is a deep, full bubbly with yeasty aromas and an endless finish ($150).
Philipponnat Clos des Goisses 1999 Brut
Mostly Pinot Noir, this is a single-vineyard Champagne. It's amber and with a hint of rose petals as well as almonds, plus it has a refreshingly mineral character ($155).
Moët & Chandon 2002 Dom Pérignon
This familiar thirst quencher delivers dried fruit flavors and finishes off with toasty yeast, the way Champagnes of old always did ($200).
Perrier-Jouët Fleur de Champagne Rosé 2002
Strawberries and more strawberries are presented here, with delicate balance and a clean finish ($299).
Dom Ruinart Rosé 1996
This is a wine of delicate, red fruit aromas with the taste of licorice and citrus. Its finish is like a spice island ($325).
Salon 1997 Blanc de Blancs
Perfumed with smoky, yeasty aromas and tasting like minerals and flowers, this wine has great depth to it ($330).
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Brut Rosé 2003
Strawberries appear here, too, but with an added lemon zest and undertow of yeastiness for a most complex bubbly ($350).
If you're sorry that the twelve days have gone by, and you need one more burst of bubbling joy, try Krug.
Krug 1996 Clos d'Amonnay
There's a hint of your grandmother's closet in the aroma and the flavor of lemon/citrus in the taste. It finishes like something from one of those mineral rich streams that bottled water boasts about. The wine is powerful and delightful ($2,250).
