Hey All,
Not long after my last Champagne post. But what is you favourite cheap "Sparkling"? It can be legit from the Champagne region or anywhere world wide. Let's cap it at $25-40 a bottle?
I used to love Chandon Brut but the quality has dropped dramatically now it's pricing itself at the $20 mark. It's rather upsetting as we use to love this drop to bits!
Me and the Wife want to buy a case or two to numb the pain of a toddler haha!
Thanks for your comments in advance! ;)
I hate to be that person but please for the love of god just say "sparkling wine".
My recommendation is below your price point but I believe that the reviews speak for themselves - https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_23785/henkell-trock…
This is our favourite sparkling wine also.
I changed the post to Sparkling, thanks for the comments I'll take a look.
Grant Burge is quite a crisp drop,
Ive also found that many people find the Dan's cleanskin no.10 to be comparable to Grant Burge too, if a little subtler.
https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_23820/grant-burge-p…
https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_908501/cleanskin-no…
Full disclose, I work at a Dan's.
Thanks for this, do you think that Chandon has dropped in quality in the last 6 months? It's weird both of us think this and so do our friends.
I haven't personally noticed a quality shit as of late, however I rarely buy Chandon myself.
I haven't had any customers comment on it either.
I haven't personally noticed a quality shit as of late
Man, see a doctor if you haven't noticed a quality shit lately :p
@John Kimble:
Clearly it took me too long to get that joke, I must have been backed up somewhere.
Spell-check giveth and spell-check taketh away.
Jansz premium is about 25 a bottle, Jacobs creek trilogy if you want something cheaper
I concur that something has gone terribly wrong with Chandon NV. I can't stand it anymore. I usually only drink Champagne but for sparkling that's similar and good value I am liking Cloudy Bay Pelorus from NZ. Under $30.
Yeah totally agree, what actual champagne do you drink regularly?
My go to Champagne for regular drinking is Lanson, but Champagne and Sparkling is very much down to individual taste. If you are after cheap Champagne then keep and eye on 1st Choice and Vintage Cellars, they often have half price deals on some less well know Champagne that are decent.
Forgot about Lanson, the Gold Vintage from 2004 or particularly 2002 (if you can find it, we've been lucky and found some lurking in the back of fridges at various Dan Murphy's stores) is pretty good, and can be had for $55. Not a big fan of the 2005 though.
Jacobs Creek brut NV or Crosser brut NV
Me and the Wife want to buy a case or two to numb the pain of a toddler
You give alcohol to your toddler?
Daddy drinks because you cry.
I generally look to Deutz Cuvee if I can't pick up Chandon for a bargain.
https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_86119/deutz-marlbor…
+1 for Deutz for a cheapy, also agree with the votes for Jansz. Bay of Fires at around $25 is also ok. If you want really really cheap, Wolf Blass's NV at around $7 a bottle is passable, but I feel as though I'd get a headache after a couple of glasses.
For a cheapish french, Mumm NV is ok at around $40 on special, but I've been noticing a little drop in quality over the last year as well. If you're wanting to head into Vintage champagne, 2006 Mumm is on special at Dan Murphy's is $65 for members until the end of the month.
Agree that Mumm NV is possibly dropping a little, but I don't think it's quality. I think it's being released a little early so hasn't had the chance to develop the complexity as much as it used to. In theory NV is released when it's ready for drinking, but when they release it they also allow for shipping etc as part of that. My theory is Mumm was less well known around here compared to, say, Moet, so bottles would be in stock for some time before purchase. Now however I seem to see it everywhere so I suspect that stock turnover is much faster. Anyhow, if you can, it's worth buying a few bottles (if you have somewhere suitable to store them) and drink them over a year.
In general NV does not benefit much from ageing, but way back when I used to buy fizz once a year and drink the stuff I bought the previous year - that extra year really did seem to make a difference. Now of course I just drink to numb the pain of having three kids. ;-)
Ah, yes your comments make sense. Cheers.
Definitely recommend what we here in kid central call our 'coping juice'. Our three are no longer toddlers, but by gum it still helps.
Grant Burge was our favourite fizz - currently around the $22 mark although at times I've got it for under $16 per bottle. (https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_23820/grant-burge-p…)
The GB is still good, but we now drink fizz less than before, so instead 'splurge' on Mumm - currently $42.95 but sometimes can get it for a little less (https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_144813/mumm-cordon-…). It also means that once a year we think about one of these: https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_74690/krug-grande-c…
Grab a bottle of each, see what you think, then buy in bulk, and use as directed.
Give the Henkell Trocken a run. Can't be beaten at its price point for mine.
Just got a bottle of the Arras and NV Grant Burge (Didn't have the Henkell). Will report back once numb from child!!!
Thanks all, love this place!!!
Will report back once numb from child
You wouldn't happen to be in the parish, would you?
OK, I'll be controversial. For everyday bubbles, La Vuelta Cava (Spain) from First Choice or Liquorland at less than $10 is hard to beat. Sure, it is a Coles brand but it is a clean, fresh aperitif style. Check that you are getting fresh stock - there is a bottling lot code in the format LYDDD etched in side of the bottle near the heel. Y=last digit of the year of bottling and DDD is the day number of the year e.g. 28 January 2017 is L7028. If you are looking for a fresh style, go for the highest number.
Contrary to some comments above, sparkling wine is designed to be consumed soon after filling into the expedition (retail) packaging (or disgorging, in the case of traditional method products). Aging in the retail bottle risks gas loss, development (darkening in colour, toasty notes on the nose) and oxidation. A sparkling wine cork gives a shelf life of 12-18 months. When the section of the cork inserted into the bottle doesn't expand when it is removed, you've probably got old stock. The Zork plastic cap and crown seals (depending on the liner in them) will give longer shelf life.
Reason the price has dropped is because the Euro is so weak against the $AUD.
You should be happy. Champagne from France is just that. The quality is the same.
Anyway quite a few local bubblies to choose from at Dan Murphys under $7.00
Carrington range hard to beat at Dan Murphys currently only $3.70 in any 6. BE QUICK!
Yes! Its the 750ml bottle. Not the little one
https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_13386/carrington-br…
Silly question? Can you make bubbly with wine and a Soda Stream?
You can and I've done that before. It's usually a goon party trick! It uses a lot of the gas though as it doesn't carbonate as easy as straight water!
Apparently you have to be super careful though…there's many videos online of it going wrong (i.e. red wine all over the ceiling/room).
Champagne or simply sparkling? For sparkling, I'd look at Croser both the NV ($20) and vintage ($30ish) are great… The vintage is a little smoother (at least, in my experience).