Great champagnes

This is not a paid post. Products are press samples.

For decadence that can be sipped, champagne is hard to beat. 

It is the classic choice for celebration whatever the time of day. Perfect for any occasion it can be drunk on its own or paired with food.

If you want to enjoy fully a mature champagne’s aromas and complexity, try serving it in a white wine glass.

Here are my favourite non-vintage champagnes for the holidays.

Pol Roger Brut Reserve Champagne NV, ABV 12.5%, £42.99, (Save 1/3 when you order by 30/12/2017 and pay only £28.66 ocado.com)
Reputed to be Winston Churchill’s preferred choice and one of the best non-vintage champagnes on the market, this powerful fizz, from a highly-regarded family-owned house, will tantalise your taste buds. Oozing peach and pineapple aromas with a smattering of nuts and honey, it is a well-balanced elixir that oozes elegance and sophistication. Heaven in a glass.

Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV Champagne, ABV 12%, £42.99 (Save 20% when you order by 30/12/2017 and pay only £34.39, ocado.com)
This house, another independent family set-up, is renowned for producing excellent quality bubbly. Brimming with nuances of apples and pears complemented with red berries tinged with subtle notes of toast and almonds, this complex golden liquid is velvety smooth on the palate. A champagne to be savoured.

Taittinger Brut Prestige Rosé NV, ABV 12.5% £39.95, champagnedirect.co.uk
From one of the other few family-owned champagne houses comes this delicious, seductive strawberry-soaked beauty. Stylish and classy with plenty of character, it continually bowls you over. 

Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut NV Champagne, ABV 12%, £21.99
Fruity with smacks of biscuit and nuts, this crisp champagne, made entirely from pinot noir grapes, slips down a treat. A reasonably priced, dependable bubbly. Will please even the most discerning palates.

By Daralyn Danns

Wines for gifts

A bottle of wine can make an excellent gift, but choosing something for the connoisseur can be difficult. So here are some unusual ones that you may like to put on your shopping list as well as a favourite that anybody who knows about champagne will find hard to resist.  

Pol Roger Réserve, Brut, £39.95 per bottle or £191.76 for a case of 6 (£31.96 per bottle) Berry Bros. & Rudd (bbr.com)
Reputed to have been Winston Churchill’s favourite fizz, this stylish, well-balanced champagne, still produced by descendants of the house’s founder, is worth every penny. Pale gold in colour, with a steam of delicate bubbles, this classic Grande Marque tantalises the taste buds with gorgeous fruity tangs. A real treat that exudes class.

Rara Neagră, 2011, Purcari, Purcari Estate, Moldova, £11.95, bbr.com
This is a superb velvety, dry red loaded with red fruits given a twist of spice. Made with indigenous Rara Neagră grapes, it slips down so easily that it is sure to please.

Grüner Veltliner, 2012, Hohenberg, Josef Ehmoser, Wagram, Austria, £16.50
Made from Austria’s signature white grape, this zingy, yet refined medium-bodied dry white is fresh and bursting with flavours of  juicy citrus and a slight hint of pepper. Those that like crisp white wines without oak will enjoy this number.

Moscato d'Asti, Canelli, Cerutti, Cassinasco, Piedmont, Italy £12.95, bbr.com
Ideal for those who only like a little alcohol (it only contains 5 per cent), this delicious, frothy and sweet Italian number is the perfect way to end a meal.

By Daralyn Danns