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I am throughly convinced that the most you should ever spend on Champagne is 50-80 dollars (ex a normal bottle of veuve clicquot), and only in extra special cir

I am throughly convinced that the most you should ever spend on Champagne is 50-80 dollars (ex a normal bottle of veuve clicquot), and only in extra special circumstances go near the 200 dollar price point. Anything above that is just paying for style over substance. Specifically I taste tested several bottles based on an increasing scale of rarity and price. This included a 200 dollar bottle of dom, a 200 dollar bottle of La Grande Dame, and a one of a kind bottle of Dom stored properly in my friends basement since 1988 (a supposedly good vintage). I have no skin in the wine game. I just don't like getting tricked by the luxury business. 50-80 is the sweet spot of quality and price, with diminishing returns in quality at the 200 price point Once you get above the top recent vintages, you are just paying for exclusivity not the product.

mathematicaster 4y ago
When it comes to bubbles, I believe the subjective dimensions of personal taste and disposable income are by far the largest determinants of what any one person "should ever" do.
- Bakary 4y ago
  Should here is in the sense of making the transition towards Veblen goods or not
pimeys 4y ago
I usually go with the small unknown vineyards. I've had a bunch of great bottles of champagne for 25-30 euros, always from smaller brands. The famous ones cost too much and are quite often not as good even...
WastingMyTime89 4y ago
As a French who grew not far from Champagne, I’m actually convinced the most you should spend on a bottle of Champagne is exactly 0 dollar. At an equivalent price point, you will find plenty of better sparkling wines all around. Buying Champagne really is buying the brand.
- prvit 4y ago
  What non-Champagne alternatives would you recommend to wines such as Ulysse Collins Les Maillons Rose or Jacques Selosses Substance?
- gaadd33 4y ago
  I'm curious what you would suggest with very fine bubbles such as found in Krug? Most Champagnes and for sure any American sparkling wines are lacking even when produced via méthode traditionnelle. I would love to find something similar that was substantially more affordable to make it more than a once every 5 years sort of thing.
samwillis 4y ago
I’m personally convinced the most you should spend on a bottle of Champaign is £10-15 on a bottle of Cremant De Bordeaux rather than Champaign. There will always be occasions when a bottle of Champaign is called for, but you likely have one that someone gave you as gift for that. Most Cremant is as good as or better than Champaign at 2-3x the price. We are particularly fond of this one: https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-cremant-de-bordeaux-blanc-brut-527814011 https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-cremant-de-bordeaux-blanc...
- brockwhittaker 4y ago
  I haven’t heard much from Bordeaux on crémants, but i can vouch for burgundy and loire for crémants that perform as well as many champagnes, for under $25.
- axlee 4y ago
  The fact that you can't even seem to be able to spell the name of the product properly makes me doubt on your expertise regarding said product.
  - xeromal 4y ago
    This seems a bit hostile. Where did they claim to be an expert? Are only experts allowed to respond on hacker news?
    - Bakary 4y ago
      I think they were hostile indeed. At the same time, it's a worthwhile philosophical argument. Can it be considered rude to issue a claim when you don't hold the most basic knowledge?
      - xeromal 4y ago
        I mean we're talking about the price of wine or champagne to buy. It's very low stakes debate so think you can pull any answer out of your ass because at the end of the day nothing matters and it's not very objective. It's all based on taste
cortesoft 4y ago
> Anything above that is just paying for style over substance. What is wrong with paying for style? While I personally don’t find style valuable, a lot of people in this world do. Who are we to tell them what is valuable?
- searine 4y ago
  Nothing wrong with paying for style for style's sake. I just don't like when people mistake style for quality, and then lure others into spending too much for it.
efficax 4y ago
save 20 bucks and go with a really nice bottle of prosecco
- prvit 4y ago
  Prosecco is a completely different wine made through a completely different process.
  - tgamma 4y ago
    So, Franciacorta then, to stay in Italy and keep the Metodo classico :)
    - prvit 4y ago
      Sure, I’m obsessed with Annamaria Clementi (especially the rosé). An absolute bargain compared with similar Champagne, but at around 150-200eur it’s still way above the prices discussed here. Oh, and like any good and cheap sparkling wine, it’s very rapidly becoming hard to find.
  - efficax 4y ago
    yes obviously
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

mathematicaster 4y ago

When it comes to bubbles, I believe the subjective dimensions of personal taste and disposable income are by far the largest determinants of what any one person "should ever" do.

Bakary 4y ago
Should here is in the sense of making the transition towards Veblen goods or not

pimeys 4y ago

I usually go with the small unknown vineyards. I've had a bunch of great bottles of champagne for 25-30 euros, always from smaller brands. The famous ones cost too much and are quite often not as good even...

WastingMyTime89 4y ago

As a French who grew not far from Champagne, I’m actually convinced the most you should spend on a bottle of Champagne is exactly 0 dollar. At an equivalent price point, you will find plenty of better sparkling wines all around. Buying Champagne really is buying the brand.

prvit 4y ago
What non-Champagne alternatives would you recommend to wines such as Ulysse Collins Les Maillons Rose or Jacques Selosses Substance?
gaadd33 4y ago
I'm curious what you would suggest with very fine bubbles such as found in Krug? Most Champagnes and for sure any American sparkling wines are lacking even when produced via méthode traditionnelle. I would love to find something similar that was substantially more affordable to make it more than a once every 5 years sort of thing.

samwillis 4y ago

I’m personally convinced the most you should spend on a bottle of Champaign is £10-15 on a bottle of Cremant De Bordeaux rather than Champaign. There will always be occasions when a bottle of Champaign is called for, but you likely have one that someone gave you as gift for that. Most Cremant is as good as or better than Champaign at 2-3x the price. We are particularly fond of this one: https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-cremant-de-bordeaux-blanc-brut-527814011 https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-cremant-de-bordeaux-blanc...

brockwhittaker 4y ago
I haven’t heard much from Bordeaux on crémants, but i can vouch for burgundy and loire for crémants that perform as well as many champagnes, for under $25.
axlee 4y ago
The fact that you can't even seem to be able to spell the name of the product properly makes me doubt on your expertise regarding said product.
- xeromal 4y ago
  This seems a bit hostile. Where did they claim to be an expert? Are only experts allowed to respond on hacker news?
  - Bakary 4y ago
    I think they were hostile indeed. At the same time, it's a worthwhile philosophical argument. Can it be considered rude to issue a claim when you don't hold the most basic knowledge?
    - xeromal 4y ago
      I mean we're talking about the price of wine or champagne to buy. It's very low stakes debate so think you can pull any answer out of your ass because at the end of the day nothing matters and it's not very objective. It's all based on taste

cortesoft 4y ago

> Anything above that is just paying for style over substance. What is wrong with paying for style? While I personally don’t find style valuable, a lot of people in this world do. Who are we to tell them what is valuable?

searine 4y ago
Nothing wrong with paying for style for style's sake. I just don't like when people mistake style for quality, and then lure others into spending too much for it.

efficax 4y ago

save 20 bucks and go with a really nice bottle of prosecco

prvit 4y ago
Prosecco is a completely different wine made through a completely different process.
- tgamma 4y ago
  So, Franciacorta then, to stay in Italy and keep the Metodo classico :)
  - prvit 4y ago
    Sure, I’m obsessed with Annamaria Clementi (especially the rosé). An absolute bargain compared with similar Champagne, but at around 150-200eur it’s still way above the prices discussed here. Oh, and like any good and cheap sparkling wine, it’s very rapidly becoming hard to find.
- efficax 4y ago
  yes obviously

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]