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The best under-the-radar Champagne to pop on NYE

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 21 Dec 2023

By
Emily Reed

Champagne for NYE? Not groundbreaking. But finding a killer bottle that everyone else is sleeping on certainly is.

Champagne and New Year’s go hand-in-hand – that’s news to no one. But instead of reaching for the same old headliners, make it your New Year’s resolution to uncover a lesser-known Champagne that competes with (or edges out) the big boys. For this year’s festivities, we’re all about finding unexpected Champas to blow our guests’ socks off. Because when the countdown commences, there’s no better way to ring in the new year than with something truly exciting in your glass. 

Below, we bring you five bottles that fly under the radar, but really shouldn’t. We’re talking elite bubbles and perfectly balanced flavour – the kind of pedigree bottles any expert would be proud to pop on Champagne’s night of nights.

Bottle of Grande Reserve Brut Champagne

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1. Nicolas Feuillatte Selection Brut Champagne

Sure, this may be one of the newer Champagne houses in France, but don’t let that deter you from grabbing a bottle at midnight. Nicolas Feuillatte prides itself on producing ‘modern’ style Champagne, and the result here is well-balanced, refined and light. Aromas of white fruit, apple and raspberry will appeal to the Champagne diehards and newcomers alike. It can even sit in a cellar for two to three years for added balance while maintaining a nice freshness. Heck, you could even pour it straight into a round of Pornstar Martinis if you’re so inclined. It’s affordable enough to do so, but trust us, it’s more than excellent enough to stand on its own, too. The world is your oyster – an oyster that would pair nicely with a glass of this Champagne, in fact.

2. Victoire Gold Vintage Champagne

In need of a little extra sparkle at your NYE party? You’ll strike gold with this bottle of bubbles. The Victoire Gold Vintage is a pinot noir and chardonnay blend, and being a ‘vintage’ Champagne, it’s one of the best expressions money can buy. Any Champagne labelled as ‘vintage’ means that all the grapes came from a single year’s harvest – something only done three or four times a decade when that harvest was particularly exceptional. It also means it’s been aged for a minimum of three years in the bottle, as opposed to 15 months for non-vintage (NV) versions. That painstaking labour is what makes vintage Champagne a proper luxury, and this Victoire drop is an excellent example. First you’ll notice the refined notes of freshness and an impressive, well-balanced length. Then there’s the fruit, which comes through gradually – think figs, apricots and a hint of citrus – to end on notes of hazelnuts and brioche. We love this one for its bougie exterior as well as its elegant golden colour and fun effervescence, which seems only fitting for a New Year’s Eve soiree surrounded by sparklers and your nearest and dearest.
Bottle of Gold Vintage Champagne

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Bottle of Champagne Brut Vintage

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3. Castelnau Champagne Brut Vintage

This next Champagne house is renowned for its extensive lees ageing. What’s that? Lees ageing, also known as sur lie (French for ‘on the lees’), is a stylistic choice to allow wine to age in contact with the dead yeast cells (left over from the fermentation). Over time, this can create flavours like brioche, biscuit or bread-like notes in the wine; the aim of the game with lees ageing is to enhance certain aromas and give the wine more body and texture overall. And yup, all our earlier thoughts about vintage Champagne apply here, too.  The Castelnau Champagne Brut Vintage has over 10 years of ageing on its lees, giving it out-of-this-world complexity and depth, plus an aromatic harmony of grilled, toasty notes. It also has a well-rounded body thanks to the chardonnay in the blend and a hint of citrus, which gives it a distinguished freshness. The spicy notes on the finish are a signature style of Champagne Castelnau.

4. Besserat De Bellefon Champagne Cuvee Bleu Brut

If hosting a dinner party on the last night of the year is more your vibe, then make sure a bottle of Besserat De Bellefon Champagne Cuvee Bleu Brut is swiftly added to your ice bucket. The unique thing about this wine is the lower-than-normal pressure that it’s kept at under the cork. By doing this, the effervescence is slightly softened and more delicate, which allows the wine to partner better with food. Clever! If you’re in need of menu ideas, you could choose anything from prawns and grilled fish to deep-fried chicken, baked brie or even a big bowl of potato crisps. In terms of flavour, this Champagne is fresh and fruity with hints of peaches and apricots and a lingering spicy finish that will keep you coming back for another sip between mouthfuls of that delicious feast you’ve prepared.
Bottle of Champagne Cuvee Bleu Brut

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Bottle of Champagne Blanc de Noirs Extra-Brut Vintage

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5. Philipponnat Champagne Blanc De Noirs Extra-Brut Vintage

Philipponnat Champagne is enjoyed in more than 50 countries and regularly spotted in Michelin-starred restaurants, so it definitely deserves a spot in your fridge. This Champagne Blanc De Noirs Extra-Brut Vintage is a rare – and brilliant – example of fine French fizz made purely from pinot noir. But don’t expect a red or pink wine – the grape skins are removed from the juice early on to retain that crystal-clear Champagne clarity. Pinot brings complexity here, even more so with this wine aged for five to seven years before release. It offers luscious fruit-driven notes of pastry with fresh pear and almond, while the palate is creamy and round with notes of praline, caramel and apricot jam. The finish is fresh with spicy hints of cinnamon and clove. Just what New Year’s calls for.
Shop related products
Nicolas FeuillatteGrande Reserve Brut Champagne
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Grande Reserve Brut Champagne
$59.99 each
 
VictoireGold Vintage Champagne
Gold Vintage Champagne
$109.99 each
 
CastelnauChampagne Brut Vintage
Champagne Brut Vintage
$98.99 each
 
Besserat De BellefonChampagne Cuvee Bleu Brut
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Champagne Cuvee Bleu Brut
$89.99 Each
 
PhilipponnatChampagne Blanc de Noirs Extra-Brut Vintage
Champagne Blanc de Noirs Extra-Brut Vintage
$154.99 each
 
Authour image
Emily ReedEmily is a Melbourne-based writer partial to a good pét nat. Her hobbies include lining up songs on Spotify at house parties and hovering near cheese platters.
Tags
Hit ListSparklingWineEntertainingNew Years EveChampagneFrench region
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