Don’t know much about champagne but I would like to get a bottle for my girlfriend and I.
We recently tried Billecart-Salmon brut reserve for NYE which we both enjoyed.
I was looking into Roederer 244 at Costco but went back last night and all bottles were gone 
Any recommendations would be appreciated.
There is loads of data already here: ITT: Post $75 and under Champagne that is worth stockpiling throughout the year
You can use this and see what responses appeal to you, then see of them what is available around you.
Given your other experience, see if there is a bottle of NV Vilmart Grand Cellier nearby and call the chase over.
6 Likes
Fairly new to WB. Thank you!
Terrific. Should you want to tell us your local area, or the bigger city that might be close, I could give you a short list of things to try that won’t force you to feel like a regular around here, nor be a weather-worn Champagne dork.
Welcome to the forum.
1 Like
I would go with vintage Laurent Perrier or NV Laurent Perrier la cuvee
1 Like
Hollywood/Los Angeles.
There’s a K&L near by that I was planning on checking out today or tomorrow.
Thank you very much.
K&L has a pretty good selection. If Diana is there she can give you some very good advice.
I think they directly import some decent champagne like the vintage Franck bonville, and some others.
1 Like
Laherte brut nature
I think that’s a great wine but I’d hesitate to recommend zero/low dosage wines given his benchmark is billecart; the vilmart frank recommended does have similar dosage.
3 Likes
Gabe, here are some suggestions to click and check. For me, they meet your budget and they also remain in the same experience as your B-S Brut reference.
https://shop.klwines.com/products/details/1117157
https://shop.klwines.com/products/details/100041
If this were me, I’d do the Vilmart. Consistently good, with acid, texture and fruit. In terms of the Bollinger, less experience with that but @Cris_Whetstone shared a bottle of that with me in a blind tasting this past December and I enjoyed it a lot.
3 Likes
@djlee87, I concur with Michael. It may be jarring to make that shift. I drink a lot of LF BdB but for someone wanting to play in the space and for an occasion with someone who may also be new to Champagne, I’d not start with this one.
2 Likes
reasonable
Some thoughts for $75 or below:
Agrapart 7 crus
Laurent Perrier La Cuvee
Roederer 244 or 245
Chartogne Tallet Cuvee St Anne
3 Likes
Welcome to the board! My experiences with champagne pale in comparison to most of the others who have given you advice, but I really liked the Roederer 244. If you are going to K&L, they have plenty in stock.
1 Like
Thank you so much.
I had taken a look at the Bollinger while browsing the website this week.
Maybe @Cris_Whetstone will reply here. He’s had both Vilmart GC and Bollinger SC and is very good about coloring distinction of stuff. @Ed_Steinway offers the 244. I believe that is a smart rec, too.
Try this link, with a post from @Blake_Brown, who knows Champagne as well as about anyone here. See what he says, and the replies to him also from people who have experience.
1 Like
A nice choice IMO and FWIW heres my impression of my first encounter
1 Like
Some more info, went to Los Olivos for a bday trip and stopped by Liquid Farm, they opened up their blanc de blanc for us to try
Girlfriend didn’t enjoy as much as Billecart-Salmon, said it tasted “too bready-briochey”
I mean, k&l also sells the billecart brut vintage which is probably the safest choice.
1 Like
Yeah I’ve had that thought but I would also like for us to explore some other champagnes. Taste the difference and find out what we like/dislike.
1 Like