Merry Fizzmas! Co-op takes first place in champagne taste tests
Supermarket own-label champagnes have beaten a luxury champagne house in Which?’s festive taste tests this year, with the winner costing half the price of its branded counterpart.
The consumer champion asked a panel of four independent wine experts to blind-taste a selection of champagnes to uncover the best bubbly.
Co-op’s Les Pionniers Champagne proved to be a corker with Which?’s panel, as it received the top score in the testing and nabbed one of Which?’s coveted Best Buys. Scoring 85 per cent, this bubbly impressed the experts with its smoky notes complemented by fresh, fruity flavours of red apple, lemon and grape. At £22.75, the experts thought it was a cut above the rest, praising its smooth creaminess, pleasing freshness and long savoury finish.
Following closely behind was Aldi’s Monsigny Premier Cru Champagne. The champagne received a score of 81 per cent and also earned a Best Buy. The panel said the bubbly showcased fresh fruit flavours against a savoury backbone, with a long, concentrated finish. Priced at £21.99, one expert called this fizz a “crowd-pleaser” and it was considered a great option that won’t blow the budget.
These bottles were rated higher than the most expensive champagne the panel tasted. Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut Champagne - costing £47.00 per bottle, received a score of 77 per cent. Although you won’t be disappointed by its classy and crisp taste, there are plenty of cheaper champagnes on the market that are just as – if not more - delicious.
Despite not coming first for their fizz, other supermarket offerings delivered some delicious options. Asda’s Veuve Olivier & Fils Secret de Cave Champagne, £28, was a hit with the experts who said this was a full-flavoured fizz with rich, expressive aromas of spiced apple, red fruit and citrus.
Another fizz that proved popular was Waitrose’s Brut Champagne, £21.99. It was described by the tasting panel as fresh and lively with lovely lemony aromas and a pleasing biscuity note.
For a cheaper equivalent to champagne, Sainsburys Taste the Difference Crémant d’Alsace, £11.50, impressed the experts and earned a Which? Best Buy endorsement. The panel praised the refreshing and lightly fruity fizz, which had enticing aromas of apple blossom and toasted almonds. Its subtle complexity, well-balanced flavour and crisp, dry finish demonstrated that paying less does not have to mean compromising on quality.
Natalie Hitchins, Which? Home Products and Services Editor, said:
“Champagne is the perfect way to toast the festive season with family and friends and it’s great news that this year’s top-scoring supermarket fizz costs less than half the price of an alternative bottle from one of the big-name champagne houses.
“Our taste tests have found superb supermarket champagnes and cheaper alternatives that deliver on quality and value for money and more than rival a famous champagne house.”
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
Which?’s panel of four independent wine experts blind-tasted nine champagnes for the 2023 taste test. The consumer champion asked each supermarket to nominate a non-vintage champagne costing up to £50.
The panel also blind-tasted nine sparkling wines for our sparkling wine taste test, in reference to the Cremant listed as a cheaper alternative.
Our expert tasting panel included:
- Sam Caporn – Master of Wine, consultant, speaker, writer and co-chair of the International Wine Challenge
- Magnavai Janjo – Founder of wine importer and consultancy MJ Wine Cellars
- Peter McCombie – Master of Wine, speaker, consultant and co-chair of the International Wine Challenge
- Helen McGinn – Author, drinks writer, TV presenter and co-chair of the International Wine Challenge
Which? only awards its Best Buy logo to the very best products, based on our independent expert taste tests.
Prices are correct as of 9 November 2023
For images, please contact alice.barnard@which.co.uk
About Which?
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