Top Ten Fizzes to Try This Champagne Day

Champagne Day 2016 is this coming Friday, October 21. Here are ten top bottles of fizz recommended by drinks' independent panel to celebrate with your customers on what is the biggest celebration of Champagne each year.

The judging panel included wine writers Tyson Stelzer and Ken Gargett, Alison Eisermann MW, wine judge Travis Fuller, winemaker Xanthe Hatcher, sommelier Istvan Nohra, Tumblong Hills' Michael Hatcher, Wine Ark's Mark Faber, and Star Beverages' Angelica Nohra and Scott Wilson.

Top Ten Fizzes to Try This Champagne Day

Champagne Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill 2004

RRP: $330
Distributor: Samuel Smith & Son
A creamy and complex style that captures the energy and tension of the season, and is overlaid with beautifully poised notes of brioche and toast, all the while upholding citrus freshness. The pinot noir drives considerable presence, yet at every moment it is fine and elegant. It’s underscored by a magnificent chalk mineral mouth-feel. The finish is profound, perfectly poised and incredibly long. Benchmark.

Champagne Palmes d’Or Vintage Brut 2006
RRP: $330
Distributor: Vintage House Wine & Spirits
Toasty and honeyed, and upholding delightful acid line for this rounded season at a decade of age, layered with notes of roasted nuts that carry very long and even.

Champagne Pommery Cuvée Louise 2002 Vintage
RRP: $249
Distributor: Vranken-Pommery Australia
Layered complexity of preserved lemon, stone fruits, even fig and vanilla, in a honeyed and toasty style, that’s just beginning to show a little development on the finish.

Champagne Taittinger Prélude Grand Cru
RRP: $145
Distributor: McWilliam’s Wines Group
Wonderfully complex and full, at once fleshy and tense, layered with spice and citrus zest. It’s long, characterful and complex, with layers of dried fruits and mixed spice.

Champagne Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2006
RRP: $140
Distributor: Samuel Smith & Son
A complex and magnificent cuvée that upholds the juicy stone fruit mood of 2006 with freshness, poise and lingering acid drive, culminating in a finish of roasted nuts and toast. Excellent integrity and persistence.

Champagne Taittinger Cuvée Prestige
RRP: $120
Distributor: McWilliam’s Wines Group (on-premise only)
Excellent pinot noir body and chardonnay tension, with red fruits and lemons coalescing in an elegant and seamless accord, beautifully supported by finely structured acidity and ever-present chalk minerality. Impressive.

Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve
RRP: $100
Distributor: Oatley Fine Wine Merchants
A toasty style of green olive and grilled toast reductive influence, in the very best way. It’s characterful and focused, with excellent acid line and pronounced chalk mineral structure.

Champagne Veuve Fourny Blanc de Blancs Brut Vertus Premier Cru
RRP: $65
Distributor: De Bortoli Wines
Bright citrus and stone fruits coalesce in a spicy and focused style that captures the tension of chardonnay acidity, yet with ripeness and body, concluding with chalk mineral texture and good persistence.

Champagne Henri Abele NV Brut
RRP: $65
Distributor: Star Beverages
A supple and rounded style of honey, toast and roasted nuts, with a soft mouth-feel and reasonable persistence.

Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve NV
RRP: $60
Distributor: Vintage House Wine & Spirits
Pinot noir red fruits and anise define a beautiful fruit core, with the dynamic tension and acid poise of lemon citrus. Perfectly gauged dosage defines a refreshing finish. Pretty aperitif style.

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