In the sparkle of the Christmas lights, it is time to gather with friends for a toast or two. For a cocktail soirée with finger food, a fresh and versatile non-vintage is the way to go: for a classic choice, opt for Pol Roger’s deeply fruity Brut Réserve NV or Gosset’s brisk and generous Grande Réserve NV.
The holidays are all about indulgence. Fresh seafood is a treat that calls for pure and crisp Champagnes. Oysters would get a complementary kiss of lemony freshness from Delamotte Blanc de Blancs 2014. Salty and fatty caviar on toast is elevated to new heights with Rare Champagne’s magnificent Millésime 2013, whereas the lighter fish roes such as vendace roe pairs perfectly with Henriot’s smooth and toasty Blanc de Blancs NV. My choice for a classic seafood platter is the elegant and vibrant Louis Roederer Rosé Vintage 2016, whose purity brings out the best of the seafood’s delicate nuances. For a luxurious lobster thermidor, a match made in heaven would be the gloriously toasty Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs NV.
For the actual Christmas dinner, if it’s a classic turkey or ham feast with all trimmings, more depth and power are required from your Champagne selection. Treat yourself to Bruno Paillard Cuvée 72 NV, complex from its time on lees, or the oak-enhanced Henri Giraud Hommage au Pinot Noir NV. If you are planning to go for a lighter menu, festive fish dishes like sole meunière with brown butter work like magic with the gastronomic Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Iteration n. 26 NV. A vegetarian feast with sweet root vegetable or pumpkin dishes, such as butternut squash wellingtons, marry perfectly with the spicy and fresh Alfred Gratien Cuvée Brut NV. If there is room for cheese afterwards, it is time to bring the big guns to the table. Well-matured hard cheese sings alongside Bollinger’s spice-laden La Grande Année 2014 or Krug’s layered Grande Cuvée 171ème Édition NV.
The new year is best welcomed with a Champagne from a vintage ending with a four
When it comes to gifting with Champagne, a wine aficionado would love unwrapping curiosities like the underwater aged Leclerc Briant Abyss Brut Zéro 2017 or the best-yet vintage 2008 of Lanson’s single-vineyard cuvée Clos Lanson. A collector might have wines like the majestic Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs 2012 or the immensely elegant Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2013 on his or her wish list. I would certainly add to this my best surprise from the Champagne Report 2023: the sumptuously velvety Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2006.
When it is time to say goodbye to 2023, the new year is best welcomed with a Champagne from a vintage ending with a four: the luxuriously toasty Piper-Heidsieck Vintage 2014 or the elegantly vinous Philipponnat Cuvée 1522 Rosé are the perfect wines for doing just that. Cheers to a festive season full of fine bubbles!
Top Champagnes to drink for Christmas 2023
| Producer | Name | Vintage | Region | Subregion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rare, Millésime 2013
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Rare | Millésime | 2013 | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Moët & Chandon, Grand Vintage Collection 2006
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Moët & Chandon | Grand Vintage Collection | 2006 | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Krug, Grande Cuvée 171ème Édition NV
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Krug | Grande Cuvée 171ème Édition | NV | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Champagne Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2013
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Champagne Taittinger | Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs | 2013 | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Laurent Perrier, Grand Siècle Itération no.26 NV
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Laurent Perrier | Grand Siècle Itération no.26 | NV | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Louis Roederer, Rosé Vintage 2016
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Louis Roederer | Rosé Vintage | 2016 | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Perrier-Jouët, Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs 2012
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Perrier-Jouët | Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs | 2012 | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Bollinger, La Grande Année 2014
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Bollinger | La Grande Année | 2014 | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Piper-Heidsieck, Brut 2014
Champagne
|
Piper-Heidsieck | Brut | 2014 | Champagne | N/A | |
|
Champagne Bruno Paillard, Cuvée 72 NV
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Champagne Bruno Paillard | Cuvée 72 | NV | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Champagne Henriot, Blanc de Blancs NV
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Champagne Henriot | Blanc de Blancs | NV | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Philipponnat, Cuvée 1522 Rosé 2014
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Philipponnat | Cuvée 1522 Rosé | 2014 | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Champagne Pol Roger, Brut Réserve NV
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Champagne Pol Roger | Brut Réserve | NV | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Delamotte, Blanc de Blancs 2014
Champagne
|
Delamotte | Blanc de Blancs | 2014 | Champagne | N/A | |
|
Charles Heidsieck, Blanc de Blancs NV NV
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Charles Heidsieck | Blanc de Blancs NV | NV | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Lanson, Le Clos Lanson Brut 2007
Champagne
|
Lanson | Le Clos Lanson Brut | 2007 | Champagne | N/A | |
|
Champagne Henri Giraud, Hommage au Pinot Noir NV
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Champagne Henri Giraud | Hommage au Pinot Noir | NV | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Alfred Gratien, Cuvée Brut NV
Champagne
, Champagne AOP
|
Alfred Gratien | Cuvée Brut | NV | Champagne | Champagne AOP | |
|
Gosset, Grande Réserve Brut NV
Champagne
|
Gosset | Grande Réserve Brut | NV | Champagne | N/A | |
|
Leclerc Briant, Abyss Brut Zero 2015
Champagne
|
Leclerc Briant | Abyss Brut Zero | 2015 | Champagne | N/A |
