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Champagne Krug Grande Cuvee NV $315
Krug is arguably the ultimate choice for those looking for something extra special for their Christmas celebrations. Allegedly quaffed by the likes of Giorgio Armani and Madonna, it comes with a celebrity price tag - but this cuvee is cheap in comparison to its top Champagne, the Clos d'Ambonnay that currently clocks in at $5600 a bottle. Those wishing to splash out will not be disappointed by Krug's stunning signature Grand Cuvee that counterpoises power with finesse in its seamless and intense palate of toasty tarte tatin enveloped by mineral salts and cut through with razor-sharp citrus.
From Glengarry, Caro's, Fine Wine Delivery Company, First Glass, La Barrique, Maison Vauron.
Champagne Maxim's Brut Reserve NV $59.95
If Krug exceeds your Christmas budget, there are still some classy Champagnes to be had at far lower prices, such as this excellent example from Paris' legendary Art Nouveau bistro, Maxim's - both of which are owned by the Pierre Cardin fashion house. It does exhibit an almost Krug-like richness in its yeasty, freshly baked bread and hazelnut notes that are supported by a tight citrus spine.
From First Glass or direct from www.wineimporter.co.nz.
Champagne Bollinger Rose NV $155
This robust yet refined rose is the first new wine to come from great house of Bollinger for more than 30 years. Very much in its rich and savoury house style, this is a seriously structured wine with a shimmering acidity and a red wine-like grip underpinning its elegant strawberry, raspberry and redcurrant fruit. Well worth the wait!
From Glengarry Fine Wine Delivery Company, Accent on Wine, Liquorland Newmarket.
Champagne Boizel Brut Reserve NV $75
Boizel may not be a household name, but it's one of the smaller quality-focused Champagne houses offering wines of real interest, and in this case, excellent value for money too. Described as "un petit Taittinger", while there's no connection between Boizel and the chardonnay-driven non-vintage of this grand marque, the comparison is apt given Boizel's fresh and lively style, where juicy pear is layered with yeasty notes, zingy citrus and a complex, funky, musky note.
From Maison Vauron, Point Wines.
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Particuliere NV $69.99-74.99
This year New Zealand's Champagne selection was enriched by the relaunch of Nicolas Feuillatte. It may be one of Champagne's newer labels, but, well made and well marketed, it has swiftly established itself as a high-quality and innovative player in the region. Its reserve particuliere is a creamy textured Champagne with plenty of poise in its palate of subtle spiced apple fruit and bread crust around a bright lemony mineral core.
(From Glengarry, Liquor King and fine wine retailers.)
Champagne Marguet Brut Reserve Grand Cru NV $60
Another great buy, the Marguet Brut is made entirely from grapes sourced from Champagne's grand cru vineyards. In the richer spectrum, the Marguet is a muscular Champagne with with rich notes of vanilla, sweet pastry and nut and some truffley complexity, reigned in by its attractively fresh citrus mineral edge.
(From www.planetwine.co.nz)
Champagne Philipponnat Royale Reserve Brut NV $88/$64.00
On xmas promotion
'Tis the season for sharp Champagne deals, with many of the wines recommended here to be found at prices far lower than the ones quoted in the run up to Christmas, so it pays to shop around. Glengarry has knocked $24 off this individual and expressive Champagne, ($28 off if you buy a case) from one of the region's oldest houses. It's rounded and fleshy, combining ripe apple, cream and vanilla with vibrant citrus and a chalky oyster shell character.
(From Glengarry.)
Nautilus Cuvee Marlborough Brut NV $40
Beyond Champagne, New Zealand's cool climes are well-suited to producing increasingly high quality fizz, with Nautilus' Marlborough Cuvee consistently one of the best. Light, fresh and focused, its stylish palate is permeated by a lovely, savoury marmitey note and lifted by a vivacious line of citrus.
(From Fine Wine Delivery, Wine Vault, Glengarry.)
Morton Premium Brut NV $21
If you're looking for some local house bubbles for the party season, Morton's ever-reliable and excellent value Premium Brut will certainly not fall flat. It's a full and fruity style that slips down very easily with its succulent apple and strawberry fruit and accompanying zingy grapefruit.
(From Foodtown, Countdown, New World, Pak 'N Save, Liquorland, Hillsdene Wines, La Vino.)
Hunters Marlborough Mirumiru 2006 $27.90
As well as pioneering sauvignon blanc in Marlborough, Hunters have been behind the elegant and approachable MiruMiru sparkling range of wines. Meaning "bubbles" in Maori, the 2006 MiruMiru is a bright and classy chardonnay dominant blend with brisk citrus, crunchy apple, a hint of stone fruit and underlying yeasty notes.
(From Don Johnson's, The Village Cellars, La Vino, Scenic Cellars.)
No1 Family Estate Cuvee No1 NV $35
The writer Aldous Huxley described Champagne as having "the taste of an apple peeled with a steel knife", a phrase well-suited to conjuring up the character of No1 Family Estate's Cuvee No1. Due to its Champagne-like style, the estate's classic 100 per cent chardonnay sparkler (blanc de blancs) is somewhat unsurprisingly made by a Frenchman, Daniel le Brun. Exhibiting some of the finesse of the fizz of his homeland, this crisp and complex Kiwi Cuvee has honeysuckle-like nuances fused with tart apple, quince and lemon zest.
(From Fine Wine Delivery Company, First Glass, Point Wines, Blend, Bacchus, Accent on Wine, Liquorland, Glengarry, New World Victoria Park, Milford Cellars, Hobson Liquor.)
The doctors' Bubbles for Beth 2005 $30
The doctors in question - John & Brigid Forrest - have never been shy of experimenting, and this methode traditionelle syrah malbec blend is decidedly different. Forget Cold Duck, this fresh sparkling red with its peppery, chocolatey, plum and boysenberry palate laced with violets is a far more refined beast. Fun fizz that's one of the few to hold its own at the barbecue and cope with its more sugary sauces, through its touch of sweetness. The Forrests have also radically forsaken the traditional Champagne cork in favour of a crown cap, a closure already used on most methode traditionelle sparkling wine during the second fermentation that gives it its fizz.
(From www.forrest.co.nz.)
Segura Viudas Lavit Brut Nature Cava, Spain 2006 $23/$19
On xmas promotion
The high acidity at the heart of most sparkling wines has traditionally been offset through topping them up with sugar-wine mix called the "dosage". However, recent years have witnessed a trend in adding little or no sugar, creating a style that can be identified on the label by terms such as zero bosage, ultra brut or brut nature. This near-bone-dry Spanish cava with its creamy textured, minerally and lightly spiced palate, manages to be wonderfully fresh without feeling sharp.
(From Glengarry.)
Jacob's Creek Bottle Fermented Sparkling Rose Australia NV $13.95
Rose is all the rage and this big brand ticks all the right pink boxes with its pleasant and easy drinking off-dry example that has soft juicy red fruits and a suggestion of spice and savoury notes.
(Widely available through supermarkets and liquor stores)
Michele Chiarlo Nivole Moscato D'asti 2007 $28.50
This low-alcohol (at just 5 per cent) semi-sparkling Asti is perfect with pavlova. Delicate and delicious, it's fantastically floral, strewn with freesia and rose over silky and sweet grapey fruit with nuances of apricot and mandarin. (From Scenic Cellars, Vetro Trading Hamilton and Napier.)
