For The Love Of Port

I guess it would be best corrected to be "favorite producer" or favorite bottling of Champagne.

Favorite would be Krug, but I never get to drink enough of it. Second probably Bollinger which I do get to drink more often. I also have a love/hate relationship with Selosse. I've had some mind blowing wines but also some that left me scratching my head. I guess I like fermentation in wood.

Cristal does the trick, as long as I am not paying for it.

Pol Roger, Lanson, Taittinger all have wonderful vintages. There's a lot of good brands. I wish I could try more. Champagne is an excellent pairing with cigars!

Not a hugh DP fan, a little too sweet for me, but wouldn't turn it down either.

Krug and Grande Damme are my favorite high end. Crystal is definitively not my type and way too expensive for what it is. Henriot Brut 1996 and Billecart Salmon Rosé are the ones in a nice price range and high quality I like to drink on regular basis.

Frederick Blais wrote:Krug and Grande Damme are my favorite high end. Crystal is definitively not my type and way too expensive for what it is. Henriot Brut 1996 and Billecart Salmon Rosé are the ones in a nice price range and high quality I like to drink on regular basis.

I like Henriot and Billecart as well.

Only recently started drinking better champs., I love Krug. Guess it's the Pinot in it that I like, add a bit fruit to it.

But I also like Dom Perignon, but not in every vintage. I like the 1996, 1990, and the 1973 Enotheque (sp??). Granted I've not a ton of it, but those are a few vintages that stood out for me.

My go-to champagne is Moët & Chandon White Star. Not too dry; nice in the mouth and on the nose. Also drink a LOT of Prosecco on Monday nights: mostly Nino Franco's Rustico and Primo Franco (which are my go-to Proseccos).

For serious occasions, I go looking for Veuve Clicquot or the like. I can't say that I know much about the breed, so I usually take the advice of whoever helps me at the wine store. I suspect I get a lot of whatever he happens to be pushing that particular day. (I am one of those people about whom it is said, "They saw him coming.")

I like Kirland/Costco's Champagne in the $30 and under category. Robust and dry.

I have been spoiled by having done verticals of DP and their Oenotheque (Mags only) too, but also Krug and Pol Roger verticals as well.

I love Pol Roger and at a dinner here in Seattle (not the vertical) sat next to Christian Pol Roger which was a real treat. The Cuvee Winston Churchill always hits my sweet spot in bubbly. Love it. Also really enjoy the style of Bollinger Grand Annee as well. I have had a lot of Krug and although it is always appreciated when a friend opens a bottle (I own none) it is not a style that I particularly enjoy. Too toasty for me.

Domestically, there are a bunch of very fine and reasonably price bubblies which I will buy for "during the week" drinkers:

a. Schramsberg - my first choice in domestic sparkling wine producers.
b. Gruet - Blanc de Noir at this quality level for $15? How do you not love that, coming from New Mexico.
c. Domaine Ste. Michelle - I was married at Ch. Ste. Michelle (15 mins. from my home), used to do a ton of business with them too and their bubbly is always welcome in a glass ... here it can be found for $10 on sale. Very solid!
d. Gloria Ferrer - also from Carneros (like Schramsberg) they too make a stunning inexpensive Blanc de Noir - which is 100% Pinot Noir and creamy delish.

How about some pics!

Here's some pics of a birthday party I went to a couple of months ago. Champagne is best in large formats. I prefer Champagne to port with cigars; Madeira is my first pick for cigars.

Domestic is Schrambsberg--I'm with Roy on that. Love the Reserve and Blanc de Noir. J Schram is great for most vintages, but we've had a few where I would prefer the Reserve or be just as happy with the BdN. The wife and I got married in Napa eight years ago, toured Schramsberg (great cave tour there if anyone is interested) and have been members of their club ever since, so we get 8 bottles a year automatically, and supplement with some BdN we can purchase locally.

Bryan,
I've had the Schrambsberg on a few occasions and I agree that it is one of the better Domestic Sparklers. The Domain Chandon Rose is also a very good Domestic and not very expensive, around the $20 mark.

Roy mentioned Gruet earlier. They are a French family who relocated to New Mexico and continued their craft. I tried it once at a tasting and thought it was very good.

I haven't tried much champagne in my lifetime. I tried Dom once, and wasn't that excited. Generally, I like the blanc de noir champagnes. I am not too big on blanc de blanc extra brut champagnes.

When it comes to bubbly, I usually prefer prosecco or cava. I seem to remember liking the cremants from the Loire, also.

For domestic, I like Roedere Estate. Gruet might be the best QPR. Part of the family run a coop in Champagne and several are in New Mexico. The crop in New Mexico are at high altitude so they get the necessary acidity. I like their Blanc de Noir the best, but they also make a decent vintage which, unfortunately, is rarely seen.