Don’t let your Christmas fall flat! I’m sorry, please excuse the pun, but it's high time to think about fizz for the festive season. Here you will find six fantastic sparkling wines, all offering so much more value and character than the many less interesting, high volume Champagnes you might encounter. I have even included a Spanish sparkling wine from a sub-zone of the Cava region, and an English sparkling wine, both of which I rate incredibly highly. Have a look at my top picks below, all of these available for immediate delivery, and all prices including duty, VAT and delivery.
Recaredo Serral del Vell Brut Nature 2016 - £255 per 6 including duty, VAT and delivery
Hundred Hills Preamble 2018 - £234 per 6 including duty, VAT and delivery
Egly-Ouriet Les Prémices NV - £294 per 6 including duty, VAT and delivery
Champagne de Sousa Cuvée 3A NV - £294 per 6 including duty, VAT and delivery
Guy Charlemagne Le Mesnillésime 2012 - £375 including duty, VAT and delivery
Philipponnat Cuvée 1522 1er Cru Brut Rosé 2012 - £534 per 6 including duty, VAT and delivery
A little information on each of the wines below:
Recaredo Serral del Vell Brut Nature 2016 - £255 per 6 including duty, VAT and delivery
From Corpinnat, a sub-zone of Spain’s Cava region, where a group of producers are focused on producing serious sparkling wines. Recaredo is leader of the pack, an outstanding estate producing a range of remarkable sparkling wines. The wines based on the native grape Xarel-lo offer the most complexity; the grape acts almost like Pinot Noir in Champagne, offering structure, and some complex mineral, smoky nuances. The Serral del Vell 2016 is 75% Xarel-lo blended with 25% Macabeu. As with all the Recaredo wines, the Serral del Vell is subject to low yields and extended ageing before release.
So distinctive, this dry (zero dosage) wine offers aromas of white flowers, leesy notes of freshly baked bread, a gentle creaminess and underlying mineral backbone. Truly high class. Drink now until 2026.
Hundred Hills Preamble 2018 - £234 per 6 including duty, VAT and delivery
We have been following Hundred Hills, an English sparkling wine estate from south-east Oxfordshire, since its infancy. It continues to impress each year, and it can not be denied that 2018 was a standout vintage, with generous ripe fruit and a sense of lower acidity than is typical among English sparkling wines. The Preamble is a 75:25 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Juicy nectarine, white peach, bright and fresh and with a hint of almond patisserie and a beautiful satiny texture. Drink now – 2025.
Egly-Ouriet Les Prémices NV - £294 per 6 including duty, VAT and delivery
Egly-Ouriet needs no introduction these days. Simply put, it is one of the best (and most sought-after) grower Champagnes out there. Les Prémices is an equal blend of Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
This most recent release is based on the 2018 vintage and shows notes of ripe apples, pears, baking spices and fresh bread, with a beautiful silky texture and saline finish. Drink now – 2030.
Champagne de Sousa Cuvée 3A NV - £294 per 6 including duty, VAT and delivery
Followers of Atlas offers will be familiar with the de Sousa name. After all, we have loved and offered these wines for many years now. The Cuvée 3A is one of my favourite Champagnes to drink. An equal blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced from some of the finest terroirs in Champagne - Ay, Ambonnay and Avize (hence the name), they only use Grand Cru fruit in the blend.
This is a terrific Champagne, showing notes of ripe orchard fruit, a hint of red berries, and a racy, chalky/mineral nuance with some smoky, leesy notes – persistent and poised. Drink now – 2028.
Guy Charlemagne Le Mesnillésime 2012 - £375 including duty, VAT and delivery
There aren’t many 2012 vintage Champagnes of this quality that can be found at this price. This Blanc de Blancs is a stunning rendition of the Guy Charlemagne flagship wine. 2012 is widely considered to be a very successful vintage in Champagne, and the Mesnillésime shows beautifully.
Again, all Grand Cru fruit, this shows notes of white flowers, juicy apple and stone fruit with creamy, leesy nuances of freshly-baked, glazed French patisserie. A luxuriant mousse and long, pure finish, this is so elegant and textural. Drink now – 2032.
Philipponnat Cuvée 1522 1er Cru Brut Rosé 2012 - £534 per 6 including duty, VAT and delivery
Again from the brilliant 2012 vintage, this Rosé Champagne is a blend of Grand Cru Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, named the Cuvée 1522, as that is the year the Philipponnat family moved to the region. Philipponnat is a small-scale house, who have earned an exceptional reputation for their vintage wines.
The Rosé Champagne is a fantastic option if you are looking for something a bit special – sweet red berries, freshly baked pastry, and with a wonderfully layered, textural mouthfeel, there is plenty of definition and structure and a distinctive, chalky mineral undertone. Beautifully expressed, persistent and complex. Drink now – 2034.
So, there you have it. Six fabulous sparkling wines, some alternatives to Champagne, and all suited to a range of budgets and stylistic preferences.
Please note that our cut-off for Christmas deliveries is Friday 16th December.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best
Laura