Best 10 champagne bottles and bubbly varieties under $100

Good champagne isn’t always at sky high prices. See the list of 10 bottles of quality bubbly that will not break the bank on New Year’s Eve.

The countdown to the new year is on, and bottles of bubbly are being chilled across the nation, as we all prepare to leap off the bumpy ride of 2021.

Whether it’s a top-notch Champagne, or an effervescent rose from Tasmania, there’s something ceremonial about the pop, fizz and tickle of a bubbling brew, and if you choose wisely, a top bottle will put extra sparkle into your end-of-year celebration.

Be guided by your palate, rather than price, advises Champagne writer and educator Sara Underdown. “Good ones should always be fresh and lively with some complexity, and possess a salivating deliciousness leaving you wanting more,” she says. “There’s a style to suit every palate, from light and bright to salivating minerality, mouth-filling creaminess and even pinot-driven structure.”

For a new year without a financial hangover, look for non-vintage Champagnes and sparklings, which can offer good quality and value. “They include reserve wine – older vintages that are blended into the most recent vintage – that go back several years,” Underdown says.

“In the case of Champagne, reserves can be three to 10 years old – sometimes even older – so the ageing has already been done for you. For the most part, they are enthrallingly fresh, yet complex, and often slightly rich and toasty, which makes them balanced and ready to drink now.”

Stepping-up into something more expensive, such as a vintage or prestige Champagne or sparkling, is about celebrating exceptional grapes in exceptional years, Underdown explains, often aged for extended periods. Releases such as these are made to age and are best kept for a further few years.

For a Down Under drop, look for sparkling from cool-climate regions, including Tasmania, the Upper Yarra Valley, the Macedon Ranges and pockets in the Adelaide Hills. “They contribute the high acidity, freshness and purity required to produce sparklings of great finesse and complexity, emulating Champagne’s style, albeit with their own local reference,” Underdown explains. “Australian sparklings are on the rise and they’re getting better every year. For the most part, (they) appear fruitier than champagnes. They’re more pronounced on the nose, riper on the palate and often have some textural grip.”

Try these 12 options under $100 for a bright and bubbly start to 2022.

BARGAIN BUBBLES

Jansz Premium Cuvée NV RRP $30Aromas of honeysuckle, citrus zest and strawberries. Delicate fruits and creaminess fill the mouth, with lingering citrus and nougat finish.

Seppelt Salinger Vintage Cuvée 2015 RRP $30Combines delicate citrus fruits with toasted brioche and creamy lees characters.

House of Arras A by Arras Premium Cuvee NV RRP $30

Seppelt Salinger Vintage Cuvee 2015 RRP $30

A by Arras Premium Cuvée NV RRP $30Has an inviting aroma with hints of forest, nougat and spices.

MID-RANGE

Deviation Road Loftia Vintage Brut 2018 RRP $48 Famously crisp. Aromas of lemon zest precede the creamy mousse and citrus finish.

Kreglinger Vintage Brut 2016 RRP $60Notes of delicate lemon, crisp pear, red apple and fresh brioche.

Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Brut RRP $60

Apogee deluxe vintage rose RRP $70

Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut RRP $60Delightful mix of bright, crunchy pomelo, blonde grapes and juicy white fruits.

Clover Hill Cuvée Exceptionelle Blanc de Blancs 2016 RRP $70Aromas of brioche and honey with a hint of toasted hazelnuts. The palate is creamy.

STEP UP

Veuve Fourny et Fils Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru NV RRP $75
Rich and creamy with a zing of lemon and green apple.

Apogee Deluxe Vintage Rosé 2018 RRP $80 Pinot noir-based. Extremely fragrant with hints
of strawberries and redcurrants.

Louis Roederer Collection 242 RRP $99

Pierre Gimonnet Cuvee Cuis 1er Cru Brut Blanc De Blancs RRP $89

Pierre Gimonnet Cuvée Cuis 1er Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs
RRP $89Fresh-tasting fizz with notes of apple.

Louis Roederer Collection 242 RRP $95Rich, ripe multi-vintage blend with sweet fruit aroma.

Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve RRP $100An aromatic richness with a texture of nougat on a cream pastry filled with red plums and ripe cherries.

Originally published as Best 10 champagne bottles and bubbly varieties under $100