Best $150-200 Champagne?

[Adam_Noble]

Vilmart Couer du Cuvee. Pierre Peters Les Chatillons. MV Krug Brut.

My list exactly. Maybe add Selosse Initial if you like the oxidative style, but there’s a lot of variation with that one.

I thought about Selosse as well because I love it but it’s harder to find and I want less people to buy it. .

[J.Vizuete]

Vilmart Couer du Cuvee. Pierre Peters Les Chatillons. MV Krug Brut.

My list exactly. Maybe add Selosse Initial if you like the oxidative style, but there’s a lot of variation with that one.

I thought about Selosse as well because I love it but it’s harder to find and I want less people to buy it. .

That echoes my thoughts on Prevost, but I think the Selosse train has long left the building

[Jayson_Cohen]

All, thank you for the responses so far!

Kyle, what champages in that range do you want to try that you haven’t yet? What are you looking for? (something yeasty/bready vs mineral/acid driven, large house tete de cuvee vs grower, classic vs unique…) I realize that “readily available” implies you can’t just snap your fingers and make an aged bottle of Cedric Bouchard appear; but I read your message like you’re ready to splurge a bit. I’d suggest to use that as an opportunity to taste something you’ve read about here and are already interested in. As always, remember your audience…

I knew there would be follow up questions . I left my post intentionally vague because I wanted to see the gamut of recommendations. I’m open to big houses vs grower, rare vs common, etc. In terms of taste, while I veer towards the toasted brioche part of the spectrum, I honestly don’t know what everyone’s palate is like, so I’m open to it all. I don’t drink a lot of expensive champagne so there’s plenty of stuff on bucket list whether is 08 Dom, Krug 168, or the ever vilified Taittinger CdC.

I ask because I would approach the situation differently dependent on your answer. If you like broad, creamy champagnes and have been reading the Tattinger CdC thread with interest, go for it. Better yet, source an older vintage. If your friend is a wine aficionado as well and will appreciate it, consider opting for something unique like Prevost Closerie (below your budget), Egly Ouriet GC Crayeres (BdN), or an elegant bottle from Bérêche, Leclapart, or Ulysse Collin; pick the one that excites you most. If your friend is less interested, perhaps aim for a big house that might have some name recognition (Dom, Cristal, Krug) so the next time your friend is at a restaurant and sees it on the menu at 3-4x cost, he/she will remember tasting it with you and further recognize the special nature of a tete de cuvee. Along those lines, 02 Bollinger RD and 02 Piper Heidseick Rare both fit the bill and are drinking great.

Were I in your scenario, I would personally want to try the 95 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires.

If he can get the Heidsieck in that price range, that’s a great call. Great wine. Another possibility is straight Louis Roederer Brut from 1995, a fabulous mature Champagne.

[Cris_Whetstone]

If you are in celebration mode and just want something to enjoy I think picks like Krug or Dom P are the way to go. A lot of the recs in this thread lean geekier and say more about being a geek than just celebrating with someone who may or may not be a wine geek themselves. These are recognizable names that can be enjoyed by pretty much anyone. I wouldn’t pop something like Selosse for people who do not have adventuresome palates.

[KyleC]

Thanks everybody for all the great suggestions! Lots of good ideas, but only a subset is available from local retailers on short notice. I’m going to play it safe and go with the Krug 168ème since my friends are not wine geeks, and thanks to KenL’s K&L stock notification, I’m going to pick up a bottle of the 07 Comtes for myself.

[NED_VALOIS]

I like the Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2008 . I got a couple of cases at $110 per a while back.
Also enjoy 2002 Pommery Brut Champagne Cuvee Louise very much.

[roybehr]

I would definitely vote for the Egly BdN. The Krug 188eme is fabulous, but maybe a little young right now.

[Ryan_A]

All, thank you for the responses so far!

Kyle, what champages in that range do you want to try that you haven’t yet? What are you looking for? (something yeasty/bready vs mineral/acid driven, large house tete de cuvee vs grower, classic vs unique…) I realize that “readily available” implies you can’t just snap your fingers and make an aged bottle of Cedric Bouchard appear; but I read your message like you’re ready to splurge a bit. I’d suggest to use that as an opportunity to taste something you’ve read about here and are already interested in. As always, remember your audience…

I knew there would be follow up questions . I left my post intentionally vague because I wanted to see the gamut of recommendations. I’m open to big houses vs grower, rare vs common, etc. In terms of taste, while I veer towards the toasted brioche part of the spectrum, I honestly don’t know what everyone’s palate is like, so I’m open to it all. I don’t drink a lot of expensive champagne so there’s plenty of stuff on bucket list whether is 08 Dom, Krug 168, or the ever vilified Taittinger CdC.

I ask because I would approach the situation differently dependent on your answer. If you like broad, creamy champagnes and have been reading the Tattinger CdC thread with interest, go for it. Better yet, source an older vintage. If your friend is a wine aficionado as well and will appreciate it, consider opting for something unique like Prevost Closerie (below your budget), Egly Ouriet GC Crayeres (BdN), or an elegant bottle from Bérêche, Leclapart, or Ulysse Collin; pick the one that excites you most. If your friend is less interested, perhaps aim for a big house that might have some name recognition (Dom, Cristal, Krug) so the next time your friend is at a restaurant and sees it on the menu at 3-4x cost, he/she will remember tasting it with you and further recognize the special nature of a tete de cuvee. Along those lines, 02 Bollinger RD and 02 Piper Heidseick Rare both fit the bill and are drinking great.

Were I in your scenario, I would personally want to try the 95 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires.

Kyle- J is spot on. One thing to learn/know about champagne is (1) the very different styles and grapes, (2) value of age, (3) the impact of acid and and of course like any wine (4) name recognition (or not).

High level generalities for illustrative purposes only and by no means are 100% correct nor is it an exhaustive list simply wanted to echo and add to AJ’s comments.

-Number 4 only really has Dom and Cristal unless they have a bit deeper knowledge and they might know a few more names.
-Number 3 play a massive role for example on the recent release vintage of 2008 where it may be a bit better integrated on a 2007 or 2009.
-Number 2 on great champagne like great wine really helps develop and enhance the profile (although some might prefer, just like in still wine, a more linear mineral and acid delivery)
-Number 1 styles run the gamut and Krug GC as you have chosen is an outlier for a number of reasons (a) (mix of ~50% current vintage (2012 for 168) and ~50% of ten years of back vintages), (b) Krug flavor profile is extremely different than say Cristal or Dom (using those as named examples), (c) size and frequency of effervescent, (d) grape mix (chard, Pinot, PM), (e) texture, (f) with or without food, etc etc.

Krug is an absolute favorite of mine and the 168 is a great choice. Having just had it last weekend, I would suggest you open it in advance as it drinks right out of the gate and/or deposing on time between open and taste have a wider surface area glass to allow more air quickly. Oh and never use the old style champagne glass if you have other options. Good luck and most importantly enjoy the special evening!