I am by the book when it comes to wine reviewing. Very few at my level are as they are clearly on the payroll of these massive operations. It is embarrassing that Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label is the number one represented wine on Cellar Tracker. I sampled two separate bottles of Veuve yesterday and both were equally poor in quality for the $60 price tag and Piper Heidsieck blew both of those bottles away. Here are my notes.
NV Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut – France, Champagne (12/2/2023)
It is truly amazing that this is the number one purchased wine on Cellar Tracker. This mass produced Champagne is terrible and the Piper Heidsieck sampled today blew this out of the water. Sampled this 3 times from two bottles and it is simple with some toast, floral notes and some minerality. Very short finish and lacks concentration. For sure the most overpriced Champagne on the market and glad I did not spend $60 to write this note. (80 points)
Alternatives that are cheaper at Haskell’s Winter Sale:
- NV Champagne Lété-Vautrain Champagne Brut 204 – France, Champagne (12/2/2023)
Solid overall with apple, spice, floral, pie crust and minerals. Good acidity Nice Campagne. (91 points) - NV Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Brut – France, Champagne (12/2/2023)
Ok this is off the charts for this newer NV. Kills Veuve and Nicolas Feuillatte which are garbage. This is super complex with minerals, orange peel, dough, sour apple, pear and floral notes. Super complex and medium plus finish. This is off the charts for value. (93 points) $39.99
- NV Champagne Gratiot-Pillière Champagne Rosé – France, Champagne (12/2/2023)
Really solid with strawberry, minerals, toast, floral and stone. Medium plus finish. Complex effort. (92 points) $49.99 - NV Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley – USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (12/2/2023)
As the world leader in this NV wine this is the 2/2002 Disgorgement. This is really good with apple, chalk, pear, lemon and floral notes. Really a solid. Much better than the crap Veuve I tried today. (90 points) $24.95 - NV Mumm Napa Brut Prestige – USA, California, Napa Valley (12/2/2023)
Other than Roederer Anderson Valley this is one of the better Sparkling values from California. Apple, spice, minerals and pear. Good acidity. Solid finish. (89 points) $19.99 - NV Gruet Winery Brut Blanc de Noirs – USA, New Mexico (12/2/2023)
The best Gruet I have tasted. 7/7/2022. Apples, pie crust, pear, lemon and minerals. Very complex overall for less than $13. (90 points) $13.98
Here is another mass produced Champagne that has not been good for years.
- NV Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut – France, Champagne (12/2/2023)
Ok this stuff is a pale comparison of what it used to be. Almost worse than Veuve. Bitter overall with minerals, dust and muted fruit. Yeast is very evident on this Champagne. Roederer Anderson far superior and half the price. (82 points)
If you want even better prices in the Twin Cities than go to the contact page and send me an email.