Best Big-Ass Champagne House

[Bill Hooper]

Sure, we all have our favorite itsy, bitsy Grower-Champagnes, but who is your favorite BACH (Big-Ass Champagne House)? Krug has been omitted for the simple reason that Krug is not Champagne, it is bottled Heaven.


Cheers!
Bill


Note: Had I had room for more options the following would have made the list: Lanson, Laurent-Perrier, Henriot, Perrier-Jouet, and Pommery -included here just to jog your wine-soaked memories !

[Robin Garr]

I voted Pol, in a fairly close contest with Feuillatte. I wish I could have voted Bollinger, but I just don't think they've been there in recent years. And to be provocative, I'm surprised to see wine geeks voting for Veuve ... great history, but they've been way down my list for a decade ... I don't think LVMH has done them any favors.

[James Roscoe]

I voted other as Pommery was left off the list.

[Bill Hooper]

I'm a big Pol Roger fan myself. Looks like Nicky Foo and Mumm are the dark horses -Roederer too. What, no rappers in the house?


Prost!
Bill

[Ian Sutton]

Roederer for me - the only big house champagne that's offered anything even remotely resembling value.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

G`day all, Happy New Year. Ian, I am with you regards Roederer, especially the Anderson Valley Brut. Always so consistent and I have some Ermitage too. That is a limited releaseI believe?

Bob P

[Peter May]

I voted 'other' as my favourite big fizz is Lanson Black Label, otherwise I buy Raymond Boulard growers Champagne.

Well actually I have recently bought as well as Lanson, Castellane and Delbeck. Latter supposedly supplied the French royal court -- and its jolly good. But solely on the ridiculously inexpensive bin-end prices.

In December we opened 7 bottles.

[Bill Hooper]

Shall no one cast a vote for Mumm? I will say that their CA Sparkling wine is terrible at best.


Bill

[Paul Winalski]

Shall no one cast a vote for Mumm? I will say that their CA Sparkling wine is terrible at best.

Mumm's NOT the word.

-Paul W.

[Bill Buitenhuys]

Shall no one cast a vote for Mumm? I will say that their CA Sparkling wine is terrible at best.

I agree with you regarding most of the Mumm Napa portfolio (I think I've sampled most everything they produce short of the Santana DVX) but I was pleasantly surprised recently by the 25th anniversary reserve brut. It carried a complexity that I hadnt found in Mumm sparklers in the past. The '98 DVX we had a few nights ago wasnt that bad either. Not worth the price though.

As far as BACH's, I'm partial to Pol for champers and Roederer L'Ermitage for a sparkler.

[JC (NC)]

I really shouldn't vote since I haven't tried many of those listed. But with my limited experience my favorite is the high-end Philipponnat Clos des Goisses, and after that the Taittinger. I also like rose' Champagne and those leaning towards more Pinot Noir.

[Otto]

Thought not on the list, I've thought of Billecart-Salmon as a big-ass Champagne. That would have been my vote.

[Bill Hooper]

Thought not on the list, I've thought of Billecart-Salmon as a big-ass Champagne. That would have been my vote.

I too love Billecart-Salmon. I guess they didn't make the list because of thier size. They make a paltry 60,000 cases , while Moet makes 2,000,000+. All the others make over 100,000 cases. (the possible exception being VC, which despite small'er' production still manages to make awful NV Champagne).



Prost!
Bill

[Dale Williams]

I would have voted for Billecart-Salmon, also. I voted for Taittinger - I tend to like the lighter styles. Pol Roger would have been second for me.

V-C has lower production? I thought they were huge. Surprised they or Feuillante (which I think is actually a co-op not a house) got votes- thought both have been awful lately/

[Bill Hooper]

V-C has lower production? I thought they were huge. /

Well, not exactly low. Slighlty under 100,000 cases as last reported.


Prost!
Bill