
Which? Shorts podcast: Undercover with the review fakers
10th August 2022
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Our expert wine panel blind-tasted 19 non-vintage champagnes from big brands and supermarkets for the December 2021 issue of Which? magazine.
They rated champagnes from brands, such as Moët & Chandon and Piper-Heidsieck, alongside 14 supermarket own labels including cheap champagnes from Aldi and Lidl, and options from supermarkets including Asda, M&S, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose and more.
Our test revealed four top Best Buys that will get celebrations off to a flying start, as well as a brilliant budget bubbly that offers a splash of luxury without breaking the bank.
Only logged in Which? members can view our test results and tasting notes below, and discover if it's really worth splashing out on pricey champagne brands.
If you're not yet a member, you'll see an alphabetically ordered list of the champagnes on test. To get instant access, join Which? today.
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All prices are correct as of October 2021. Wines that are vegan or vegetarian are labelled as such.
£18 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Aldi says its Blanc de Noirs champagne has notes of redcurrants and blackcurrant jam, with a light lingering finish. So is this blend of pinot noir and pinot meunier one of our top picks?
To find out how Aldi's offering measured up to rival supermarkets, join Which? to unlock our test results
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Aldi.
£14.50 for 75cl
Asda describes its Henri Cachet champagne as 'well balanced and fruity' with 'lingering flavours of fresh citrus and hints of vanilla'. How did it fare with our expert tasting panel?
Find out whether this affordable fizz impressed - join Which? to unlock our test results
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda.
£19 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Co-op reckons its Les Pionniers champagne is so good that you'll be hard pressed to find a better fizz for less than £20. Did our experts agree?
To see whether this champagne was one of our favourites, join Which? to unlock our test results
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Co-op.
£28 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Combining blackcurrant and lemon with a slight yeastiness, this fizz promises to be 'lively and moreish'. Did it make the Best Buy grade?
To see which champagnes impressed the most, join Which? to unlock our test results
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Tesco.
£35 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Founded in 1760, Lanson is one of the oldest champagne houses. Did its Black Label champagne earn the praise of our judging panel?
Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out if it's worth the expense.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.
£13.50 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Lidl's Comte de Senneval champagne has a temptingly low price. Can it rival more expensive bottles when it comes to taste?
Join Which? to unlock our test results and see how this budget-friendly bubbly scored.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Lidl.
£12 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
This is the cheapest fizz on test - a bottle of Lidl's Veuve Delattre costs around a third of the price of luxury champagnes we tested such as Moët & Chandon and Taittinger. Is it a bargain worth snapping up?
Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out if this cheap champagne is any match for the big brands.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Lidl.
£20 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Crafted using chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier grapes from France and blended with reserve wines, M&S promises flavours of brioche, vanilla, red apple and peach. Does it make for a show-stopping champagne?
To reveal our expert panel's verdict, join Which? to unlock our test results
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Ocado.
£17 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Notes of red apples and brioche make for a rounded and versatile Champagne, according to M&S. But was it favoured by our expert judges?
Find out whether it's worth a trip to your local M&S - join Which? to unlock our test results
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Ocado.
£38 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
As the most expensive champagne we tested, Moët & Chandon claims its Impérial Brut offers a bright fruitiness and an elegant maturity. Is it worth splashing out on?
Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out how this famous brand was rated.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.
£19 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Morrisons Adrien Chopin champagne earned a Best Buy in our 2020 taste test. But champagnes change each year, so there's no guarantee that it scored as well in this year's test.
Did it impress for a second year running? Join Which? to unlock our test results.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Morrisons.
£21 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Morrisons claims its Premier Cru champagne is noticeably richer and more elegant than standard blends, with 'fine bubbles, intense flavours and a long refined finish'. So was it crowned a Best Buy?
For our full verdict, join Which? to unlock our test results.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Morrisons.
£35 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Piper-Heidsieck's signature cuvée is made with a blend of 100 crus, giving a 'lively, subtle and light' champagne with flavours of fresh pear and apple. Is this a brand you can rely on for a first-class fizz?
Find out how it compared with other premium brands including Moet & Chandon and Lanson - join Which? to unlock our test results.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.
£25 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
According to Sainsbury's, this champagne is 'rich and beautifully balanced, with a delicate mousse and long, fresh finish'. It's one of the priciest own labels we tested, so is it worth spending more on?
To find out whether it's a good bet for Sainsbury's shoppers, join Which? to unlock our test results.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Sainsbury’s.
£21 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
This is the cheaper of the two Sainsbury's offerings we tested, and the name 'Blanc de Noirs' refers to champagnes made purely from black grapes. Sainsbury's describes it as 'fresh and fruity with delicate hints of toasty biscuit'. Did it win over our panel?
Join Which? to unlock our test results and see how this champagne compared with its supermarket rivals.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Sainsbury’s.
£19 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Spar suggests serving this champagne, made with 61% pinot noir and 39% pinot meunier, as an aperitif. How does it compare with others we tested?
To find out if this fizz was a favourite of the panel, join Which? to unlock our test results.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Spar.
£36 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Taittinger say the hallmark of its fine champagnes is the high proportion of chardonnay, which is key to elegance and finesse. So did its unique blend make for a winning wine?
To find out if it was a top-scoring bubbly, join Which? to unlock our test results.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.
£21 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Tesco says this champagne has extra-long ageing, giving 'elegant flavours of citrus, green apple and brioche with a fine mousse'. Is it recommended by our expert panel?
Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out whether it's the perfect choice of party fizz.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Tesco.
£24 for 75cl, vegan and vegetarian
Waitrose says its Blanc De Noirs champagne is 'full, rich and fruity'. So was it the star of the show in our taste test?
Find out where it ranked overall - join Which? to unlock our test results.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Waitrose.
Follow our tips for chilling your champagne to make sure you serve it at the right temperature and maximise the flavour:
Discover the best wine coolers with our expert guide.
Watch our video to find out what our experts are looking for in a champagne and to get top tips for opening the bottle without wasting a drop.
Here are some key things our experts look for when tasting and judging champagnes:
The shelf life of your champagne depends on the style. Non-vintage champagnes can last unopened for three to four years, while vintage champagnes (from a single year's harvest) can be kept for as long as 10 years. Some people will prefer to store it for a while before opening, to allow for it to age.
To prevent your champagne ageing too quickly, our experts recommend storing bottles standing up in a dark place with a cool, constant temperature.
Once opened, it's best to drink champagne within three to five days - after this, it may lose its fizz.
Best champagne, prosecco and sparkling wine preservers - find out which preservers will prevent your champagne from going flat with our expert guide.
We asked our experts for their tips when matching food with champagne:
They also pointed out it's a great drink to have without food (in moderation, of course), so works well as a starting point for festivities before you move on to mellower options with your meal.
For more advice on which wines to pair with your favourite foods, see our expert guide to matching food and wine.
Our panel of four independent wine experts blind-tasted 19 non-vintage champagnes. We asked supermarkets to nominate two widely available champagnes that they thought would stand up to the bestselling brands, including a premium own label costing up to £38 and, if available, a second, lower-priced own label champagne.
Our expert tasting panel included:
Kathryn McWhirter - wine expert and co-author (with Charles Metcalfe) of The Wine and Food Lover’s Guide to Portugal
Charles Metcalfe - speaker, author, and co-founder of the International Wine Challenge
Sumita Sarma - wine writer and founder of wine consultancy Sumilier
Peter McCombie - Master of Wine, restaurant wine consultant, speaker, writer and critic
Glass bottles can usually go in your household recycling bin. If your council doesn’t accept them, you can take them to a local bottle bank.
The recycling process can vary depending on where you live, so make sure to check with your local area if bottles require rinsing first and whether metal screw caps should be replaced or recycled separately.
Natural corks can’t go in your recycling bin. You can recycle natural corks through Recorked UK – either by posting them or dropping them off at your nearest collection point.
Synthetic corks, which are made of plastic, can’t be recycled. They should be disposed of in your general waste bin.