Tag: Old World

Bubbly’s take…

The Lanson house has been in business since 1760, making it one of the more well-established Champagne wineries. Yet this Reims-based vineyard has become one of the most visible producers, being a long-standing partner of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Unfortunately, we’re aware Lanson’s Black Label is sometimes seen as a “gift-giver” Champagne – ornate boxes of this mysterious wine are given and even “re-given” as reliable gifts. But we feel Lanson deserves special distinction – the Black Label Brut is something to be enjoyed and not merely gifted. The next time you buy it, make sure it’s bought to be drunk (preferably for yourself!) and not left to gather dust.

Would go well with…

Canapés and nibbles. We’ve generally enjoyed this crisp Champagne at parties, gatherings and events, with light food. Equally, we feel this wine is also a solitary creature, more than capable of being enjoyed on its own (perhaps as a prelude to dinner). It’s also one of the few Champagnes that we’ve found is sufficiently robust to be paired with a (mild-medium) curry!

Where to buy…

The Drink Shop

Bubbly’s take: From bottle to glass, this is slightly enigmatic Champagne presents itself with an almost auburn colour. It possesses pleasing and fulfilling notes that won’t disappoint. In our view, this Champagne house have developed an excellent Brut that combines a pleasant flavour with superb value. We believe every Champagne lover should keep a bottle of this dependable sparkling on the wine rack.

Would go well with: A Friday night. We’re serious! One Friday, when we were working from home, we opened this up a bottle of this just past 6pm. And what better way to see off the working week! While delicious on its own, we also enjoyed this with home-made pizza – this Champagne provides a great way to smarten-up a laid-back night-in.

Where to buy: .

Bubbly’s take: We think this award-winning Champagne offers a robust yet lilting flavour. It is characterful, fun and represents exceptional value. While Champagne is often characterised as an occasional treat or something to punctuate a special occasion, we feel this variety is an “evergreen” suited to both Champagne-lovers, who regularly enjoy Friday bubbles and those looking for a special tipple that won’t break the bank.

Would go well with: Definitely one for canapés. While a Champagne, we feel this wine is strong enough to pair with more potent nibbles ( – think garlic-, onion- or cheese-based snackettes). Equally, this lovely Brut would be fine just by itself.

Where to buy: Aldi UK (c.£12.49/bottle)

Bubbly’s take: In our opinion, the Brut Éclat, is a fairly formidable Champagne. It pours from the bottle with a pure alabaster froth; after settling, the wine takes an intriguing pale and golden shade. The particular Brut we enjoyed hailed from 2015 though we understand the Esterlin winery use a blend of three grapes of varying maturities to produce this refined and complex Champagne. This Épernay-based house draws on a rich and distinguished wine-making tradition to offer a unique and sophisticated selection of sparklings. We’re looking forward to trying more from the Esterlin collection in the near future.

Would go well with: Seafood. We opened this while preparing dinner one Saturday night. It paired well with fresh home-barbequed lobster (… which, in turn, paired well with a delicious macaroni cheese and mediterranean salad!):

Where to buy: .

Bubbly’s take: This one brings back fond memories of a lovely meal at Balthazar in Covent Garden, London. It is a robust and rich Champagne that almost deserves to be an entrée in itself.

Would go well with: Hearty vegetarian dishes or perhaps a warm or cheesy starter (perhaps French onion soup, if you happen to be in a nice French restaurant).

Where to buy:

Bubbly’s take: The Champagne Comte de Senneval balances excellent value with a flavoursome taste (much like the Veuve Monsigny below). This one could be a real party piece, if the guest list is long and you need a lot of Champagne to last you through the night.

Would go well with: Lots of things! This wine offers great value and versatility so we think it is a reasonable choice for a dinner party or to accompany evening nibbles.

Where to buy:

Bubbly’s take: We reckon this agreeable Champagne will become a regular in our wine repetoire. Straight from an ornate bottle, there is a regal glow to this fizz. It has a playful yet soothing taste that does not overwhelm the palate. Most enjoyable to sample, we believe this accomplished wine is particularly suited to those who are less familiar with the Champagne method of viticulture. It is pleasing yet unpretentious, simple but elegant. Well worth sharing with family and close friends. We can’t wait to try some of the other Champagnes from this fine appellation!

Would go well with: Ok… this is where we embarrass ourselves. We sampled this lovely wine while we had fish ‘n’ chips. No… not classy fish ‘n’ chips but the “fish supper” kind that you get from a takeway. We would definitely recommend a more refined and wholesome fish dish to pair with this fabulous fizz. But on a Saturday night, with breaded fish and fried chips, this Champagne was still an excellent counterbalance.

Where to buy: