From Drinks Business Online, today:

Morrisons defends slashed Champagne prices

Morrisons' wine buyer Gyles Walker has defended the supermarket’s biggest-ever Champagne discounts, which start in stores today.
Walker told the drinks business: “In these tough times many customers are looking for value, but it would be a shame to lose those customers who have come to appreciate the qualities of Champagne, a balance needs to be struck so that Champagne remains aspirational and affordable.”

Last week Morrisons announced its intention to feature some of the best-known Champagne names on the UK high street at remarkably cheap prices. All for 75cl bottles, the deal includes Bollinger Special Cuvée NV at £17.95 (down from £35.99), Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial NV at £14.39 (down from £28.88), Lanson Black Label at £13.45 (down from £26.98) and Nicolas Feuillatte at £12.99 (down from £26.98).

“Bucking the national trend,” Morrisons, which sells more than 60 Champagnes, has quoted Nielsen statistics in claiming "Champagne is more popular than ever in its stores with sales growing by 21.1% in the last three months.”

The supermarket has labelled the deal, which runs until stocks last as “fizz-tastic” and “leading the market”. However, when asked whether the promotion was purely a retailer strategy or whether there had been participation from houses and/or agents too, Walker told db: “We work hard with our suppliers in line with our retail strategy to ensure we continue to offer our customers fantastic deals.

"We have a great range of Champagnes, sparkling and still wines and our offers are one of the key ways to communicate this to our customers,” he added.

The offer comes hot on the heels of a number of strong Champagne discount initiatives in UK supermarkets, many of which will last up until and throughout the Christmas period.

Even award-winning independent merchant Roberson is selling cut-price Champagne for one week only. To celebrate its 18th birthday, the fine wine store is selling Veuve Borodin Champagne NV at £13.95 a bottle, the same price as when Roberson first opened for business in 1991.

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mel

Any port in a storm.

I can only hope people are waking up to the fact that the average Champs is vastly overpriced for what it is.

Still, for those who choose to only buy a bottle or two over xmas & new year these deals offer better value.

Lindauer special reserve beats all these bottom end brand Champagnes and Waitrose have it at £7.11 and Majestic for just £6.99.

Go on impress your guests this Christmas. Give them sparkling wine that actually tastes nice as opposed to just coming in a bottle with the word Champagne on it.

Have heard nothing but good of the Lindauer, but have never tried it...bah!
If you stuff some crême de cassis into almost any bubbly, it becomes queet neece...

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/product_r ... _11943.htm

Any good Mel?

From Jancis:

Champagne Carlin Premier Cru NV £10.99 Aldi

Reasonably biscuity and much better than Aldi’s brutally tart Veuve Monsigny at £8.99. From Cattier, a good address.

mmmh, not great then. I wonder how the Carlin compares with, say, a reduced £17 lanson or moet? It looks a good price.

That was a couple of years ago, so can't guarantee the price (or availability).

Or the source. It could be from anyone now. I haven't written any notes on it although the name does ring a bell.

NWR - having ribs in reggae, reggae sauce - what shall we have with? crushed new potatoes with olive oil/butter? rice? red rice? spag? with some fried peppers/onions/garlic interspersed.

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mel

Bolly and Lanson black at those prices is a fab offer for people at Christmas.

You cant knock it.

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Duncan

sainsbury's also jumping n the band wagon.

Saw ad in the paper this morning with champers going for £14 all supposidly discounted from somewhere in the low to mid £20s:
Lanson Black
Heidsieck Monopole Blue top
Piper Heisieck

Still wont be splashing the cash on anny fizz tho

Bolly lovely drop bought my Christmas morning toast now !!!!

Just back from Brugge so lots to read.

Had a lovely red whilst on holiday a Chateau Commandiere 07 very young but showing plenty of levels and a reasonable length lots of tanning but 5/6 years I reckon this will a decent wine, not sure of merchant prices though.

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Tanning in Brugge? At this time of year?

GK,

Wish it was !! rained on and off the whole holiday !!

Nice beers though made up for it !!

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Rich, that's a rare one - Popular in Europe perhaps, served with supper, or a restaurent evening out ?

Have I located the wrong wine
Château la Commanderie - Saint-Estèphe. '07 surprised you could'nt find one with a bit more bottle age, if you were choosing.
This one is for quite long keeping - Reported to be very structured and tannic when young.

20.40 Euro for the 2006 in an online store for Gourmet foods, Wines and Gifts.

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Duncan