Bring on the bubbly, flash the fizz and shower the sparkle… when it comes to New Year parties, champagne celebrations reach fever pitch come the mega countdown.
Moreover, with its many styles and guises, we’re gearing up for the event and ‘encore!’ ringing out with a bucket list of liquid gold to crown a grand gala, or beggar’s banquet…
1. Veuve Monsigny Champagne Premier Cru Brut, France, £21.99, Aldi, in-store
We’ve an enduring thirst for Aldi’s own-label champers and this new premier cru is an ace card… named Best Champagne by Good Housekeeping. Floral, fruity and fresh with delicate notes of citrusy orange zest and creamy, toasty fruit gliding on the vivid finish, it’s a dead cert for fizz fests.
2. Finest Premier Cru Brut Champagne, France, £25, Tesco
A classy glass, citrus fruits aligned with hints of brioche and fresh, lemony acidity make this premier cru on point with mini fish and chips or smoked salmon blini canapes. Bright, delicious and delightful from beginning to end.
3. Morrisons The Best Premier Cru Champagne, France, £27, Morrisons
Morrisons have it nailed with their fresh, zingy champagne with attractive baked apple and toasty nuances, seductive spicy, yeasty note leading to a crisp, fresh finish. Elegant with plenty of freshness and length, it’s a polished party piece.
4. G H Mumm Cordon Rouge Champagne Brut, NV France, £39, Sainsbury’s
A crowd-pleaser since day dot, Mumm’s famed reputation is cemented every time you crack open a bottle of this brilliant bubbly. Fruitier and richer than most with vibrancy and freshness, swathes of citrus fruits are laced with notes of praline and pastry, with a long-lasting finish. Lots of fun, serve this one at the stroke of midnight.
5. Champagne De Saint-Gall ‘So Dark Grand Cru 2016,’ France, £46, Tesco
A rich and classy champagne with complexity and fullness, ‘So Dark’ takes its name from pinot noir-heavy blend of grapes from the 2016 vintage. Brimming with seductiveness, its yellow and red fruits underpinned with roasted nuts, delicate spice, biscuity nuances and expressive long finish make this a choice for champagne lovers.
6. Champagne Bruno Paillard Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs MV, France, £75, Hedonism Wines
Normally the reserve of fine wine lists, for a taste of the good life channel your inner sommelier with this sensational sparkler. Made from 100% chardonnay, it opens with a beautiful bouquet of white blossom, almond and brioche. Luxurious with ripe, peachy fruits complemented with fresh, mineral acidity and flourish of a finish. Fabulous.
7. Bollinger PN VZ19 Brut NV, France, £82, The Finest Bubble
We all love to drink with our eyes and Bollinger’s PN VZ19 is a sure sign this is going to be something special. Made from 100% pinot noir, it’s lavish and complex; enticing yellow stone fruits and dark fruit aromas are the perfect support act for a racy, citrusy palate with swathes of peachy, spicy nuances, minerally undertones and subtle saline note on the precise, dynamic finish. One to share with a significant other. Santé!
