Four supermarket own-label champagnes, all costing £25 or less, have been named Best Buys in the Which? Christmas 2021 champagne taste test.
Waitrose produced the top-scoring bubbly, while Co-op, M&S and Tesco bottles came joint-second in a three-way tie.
Meanwhile, Lidl’s ultra-cheap £12 champagne proved a savvy buy for those on a budget, with a score not far behind the top bottles and praise for its ‘subtle, complex aromas’ from our expert judging panel.
All five bottles beat pricey premium brands including Moët & Chandon (£38) and Taittinger (£36) in our blind taste test.
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Best Buy champagnes – and our top value pick
Our judging panel uncovered four Best Buys that are perfect for Christmas celebrations:
- BEST BUY: Waitrose Blanc De Noirs Brut NV Champagne (£24), 82% – a fresh and fruity fizz, described as ‘lip-smacking’ by one expert. Available from Waitrose.
- BEST BUY: Co-op Les Pionniers Non-Vintage Champagne (£19), 81% – our cheapest Best Buy, this champagne had rich aromas and complex savoury flavours. Available from Co-op.
- BEST BUY: M&S Champagne Delacourt Brut NV (£25), 81% – a complex, richly textured champagne that was pleasant and fruity with prominent acidity. Available from Ocado.
- BEST BUY: Tesco Finest Premier Cru Champagne (£21), 81% – toasty and nutty with notes of toffee apple, and a lemony freshness which balanced well against the yeasty complexity. Available from Tesco.
Plus, a great value option which scores slightly lower but is still a worthwhile buy:
- Lidl Veuve Delattre Champagne Brut (£12), 77% – subtle, complex aromas, fresh acidity and a clean, fruity taste. Available from Lidl (in-store only).
To see the full results for all 19 champagnes, including other cheaper options from supermarkets including Aldi, Asda and more, head to our round-up of the best champagne
How we found the best champagne
Our judging panel was made up of four independent wine experts, who blind-tasted 19 non-vintage champagnes, including 14 supermarket own-label champagnes and five widely available champagnes from brands such as Moët & Chandon and Piper Heidsieck.
We asked supermarkets to nominate two widely available bottles that they thought would stand up to the best-selling brands, including a premium own-label costing up to £38 and, if available, a second own-label at a lower price point.
The taste test was conducted blind, so the bottles were anonymised and panellists didn’t know which champagne they were tasting.
Each expert tried the champagnes in a different order to avoid any bias.
Once all the champagnes had been tasted, the panel reviewed their ratings and agreed on a score for each bottle and which ones deserved to be Best Buys.
Take a look at our other top food and drink picks for the festive season including the best mince pies, the best extra mature cheddar cheese and the best ground coffee.
Keen to get ahead on Christmas food prep? Check out our guides on how to make mince pies and how to make Christmas pudding.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/11/best-champagnes-for-christmas-2021-revealed-including-a-bargain-lidl-bottle/