To help wrap up 2009 and bring in the New Year-2010, we’ve compiled a general list of the top 10 most poplar bottles of bubbly that taste great and will get the job done. We haven’t tried each and everyone so we can’t vouch for all of them, but they all score high in terms of Wine & Spirit points. So with that being said, Cheers to a Safe and Happy New Year!
10. Nicolas Feuillatte Blue Label Brut
$35
Creamy, with caramel tones in the flavor spectrum, along with apricot, grapefruit and a touch of mineral. The mousse is assertive, helped along by a chalky feel on the finish.
9. Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Rose ‘98
$400
90 PTS WINE SPECTATOR. The ‘98 La Grande Dame is firm, rich and powerful, featuring dried berry, spice and citrus flavors; the structure is bracing; there’s plenty of substance; drink now to 2012.
8. Mumm Champagne Brut Cordon Rouge
$33
88 PTS WILFRED WONG. A nicely constructed bubbly, the clean and crisp G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge Champagne is a solid example of the “dry” brut style; fresh and lively in the aftertaste.
7. Bollinger Champagne Grande Annee ‘99
$130
A classic Bollinger from a superb year, the ‘99 La Grand Annee offers a full-bodied experience with the bubbles from Champagne; rich core fruit flavors, creamy textures, and a long finish.
6. Piper Heidsieck Champagne Brut
$30
92 PTS, EDITORS’ CHOICE, WINE ENTHUSIAST. The non-vintage Piper-Heidsieck Brut is soft but still very dry, with acidity tamed by both fine, mature fruit and a creamy texture; a very fine, tasty wine.
5. Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Brut ‘98
$120
92 PTS WINE ENTHUSIAST. The ‘98 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame is a superbly ripe Champagne; peach and apricot aromas are followed by flavors of hazelnuts, honey and spices.
4. Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve
$39
94 PTS WINE ENTHUSIAST. The Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve is a big boy with almost fleshy fruit; flavors push into exotic, tropical richness.
3. Louis Roederer Cristal Brut ‘02
$200
100 PTS WINE & SPIRITS. The ‘02 Louis Roederer Cristal is insolent, brash, earth bound; all the scents and flavors seem to emanate from limestone, as does the acidity; this wine goes on for miles.
2. Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label
$38
91 PTS WINE SPECTATOR. There’s plenty of finesse in the smooth-textured non-vintage Veuve Clicquot Champagne, whose flavors evoke apricot, peach, vanilla pastry and mineral; racy, with snappy acidity.
$122
92 PTS CONNOISSEURS’ GUIDE. The ‘00 Dom Perignon offers the classic blend of sweet citrus, chalk, light toast, insistent streams of small bubbles and a long, crisp, bright flavor profile and finish.
