New Year’s Eve is the time to pull out all the stops, and whether you are celebrating your successes in the year that just passed or staking your claim that the new year will be your best ever, a great bottle of Champagne will mark the turning of the clock in style. We’ve included a couple of Blanc de Blancs, made with 100 percent Chardonnay, a smattering of non-vintage and a handful of single vintage bottles made by top-tier houses in the best years. Of course, no selection of Champagne would be complete without a couple of pink sparklers for those who love to live la vie en rose.
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Besserat De Bellefon Blanc de Blanc NV Epernay
Image Credit: Besserat De Bellefon This 100 percent Chardonnay-based Champagne has aromas of green apple, freshly baked pie crust and a touch of citrus blossom. It has great perlage with a persistent, frothy mousse. In the mouth there are flavors of white stone fruits and bread dough supported by a pleasantly acidic backbone.
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Dom Ruinart Rosé Brut Champagne NV
Image Credit: Dom Ruinart Grapes for this lovely non-vintage Champagne are grown in Premier Cru vineyards around the Montagne des Reims. It is composed of 55 percent Pinot Noir and 45 percent Chardonnay using both recent vintage and reserve wines. It has the delightful scent of a big bowl of strawberries topped with freshly whipped cream. In the mouth, it’s smooth and fruity with a lingering persistence.
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Krug Rosé Champagne Brut 26th Edition With Gift Box
Image Credit: Krug This delicious rosé Champagne is a mélange of 28 wines from seven different years ranging from 2005 to 2014 and was aged in Krug’s cellars for seven years. It is pale pink in the glass with enticing aromas of red fruits and freshly baked brioche. In the mouth, the rosé has lively effervescence and flavors of red raspberry, strawberry and vanilla.
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Champagne Gosset Celebris Vintage 2008
Image Credit: Champagne Gosset The Celebris cuvée was born in 1988 and sold for the first time in 1995. The 2008 vintage marks the eighth edition released in the last 34 years. This intoxicating Champagne, limited to only 15,000 bottles, is made up of 54 percent Chardonnay and 46 percent Pinot Noir and was aged in the cellar 12 years prior to disgorging. It has aromas of acacia flowers, plum, fig and jasmine and flavors of Anjou pear and freshly baked drop biscuits. The finish is persistent and pleasantly acidic.
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Champagne Billecart-Salmon Elisabeth Salmon Brut Rosé 2009
Image Credit: Champagne Billecart This copper-colored Champagne is made as a tribute to Elisabeth Salmon, one of the maison’s founders. It’s composed of 55 percent Pinot Noir and 45 percent Chardonnay, with aromas of citrus peel and fruits of the woods. On the palate there are flavors of caramelized orange peel, candied ginger and freshly baked nut bread. The texture is silky and smooth with a great persistence of bubbles.
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Dom Pérignon Vintage 2012
Image Credit: Dom Perignon The 2012 season was challenging for many wine growers in France, but the Dom Pérignon vineyard managers and winemakers took the many hurdles in stride and produced an exceptional Champagne despite the difficulties. This elegant bubbly presents with a nose of white blossoms, Granny Smith apple and wet river rock. In the mouth there are flavors of apricot and celery root with just a hint of peppermint and freshly ground white pepper in the finish.
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Bollinger Grande Année 2014
Image Credit: Bollinger This exceptional Champagne is a blend of 61 percent Pinot Noir and 39 percent Chardonnay sourced only from Grand Cru and Premier Cru villages. It was fermented in neutral oak barrels and hand riddled while it rested on its lees. In the glass, the bubbly has impressive mousse and delicate perlage with aromas of Winesap apple, Bartlett pear and freshly baked bread. In the mouth, meanwhile, it has great finesse as well as impressive length in the finish.
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Pommery 2008 Royal Brut Champagne Grand Cru
Image Credit: Pommery This impressive Champagne presents itself with intense floral notes including honeysuckle, daisy and peony. In the mouth it reveals flavors of Anjou pear, freshly picked yellow peach and a touch of acacia honey before the long, crisp, finish.
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Drappier Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne NV
Image Credit: Drappier This intoxicating Blanc de Blanc is composed of 95 percent Chardonnay and 5 percent Blanc Vrai, also known as Pinot Blanc in other parts of France. In the glass, it has aromas of peach and pear with a whiff of wet river rock in the bouquet. Upon entry into the mouth it has flavors of white stone fruits, ripe apricot and a creamy mouthfeel.
