WE will celebrate the Jubilee with 114 glasses of fizz a MINUTE over the bank holiday.
But how do you get the best bubbles for your buck? We might go for a well-known label such as Moet & Chandon but there are lots of supermarket alternatives friendly to both your palette and pocket.
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Wine expert Helena Nicklin, of thethreedrinkers.com, puts some to the test and awards marks out of five.
Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial NV Champagne, £39, Tesco: 3/5
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THE top pick for us when splashing out on a bottle of genuine champagne.
The bestselling Brut Imperial Non-Vintage fizz is loved for its golden colour and mix of bready notes, ripe apple tang and lemon-peel freshness.
Vibrant and fruity, with a slick of citrus and a spot of spice, there is little not to love . . . except the price.
Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Blanc de Noirs, £21.50: 4/5
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SAINSBURY’S own-label fizz has improved a lot recently while prices have come down on the shelf – a win all round. This is made only with the black grapes Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Sassy and elegant with red fruit, spice and a cool mineral finish. Lovely plonk and great value, a super choice for filling your flute.
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Aldi Veuve Monsigny Brut NV, £13.99 (in stores only): 5/5
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VERY little rivals this fizzy fave in terms of price and quality. The incredible bubbles and flavour it delivers for under £15 is astonishing and we experts are always left to wonder how they do it.
Non-vintage but clearly has a lot of tasty and toasty reserve wines in it. For the cost, for me, it is unbeatable.
Lidl Comte de Senneval Brut NV, £13.99: 2/5
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SAVOURY and leafy, with a nice coffee-bean smokiness, this is weightier and more wine-like.
Some might prefer it to the big-label brands. Think digestive biscuits rather than multi-layered patisserie flavours but it is still a decent drop for your cash.
Delacourt Vintage Brut 2012, £28, marksand spencer.com: 5/5
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I HAD to look twice at the price on this bottle of M&S’s own fizz. Vintage champers with a good amount of age on it like this would normally be far pricier.
Not the cheapest, but outstanding value for the top-notch bubbles and still a tenner cheaper than non-vintage Moet. Powerful, creamy and nutty with a lovely freshness to it. Excellent.
Asda Extra Special Louis Bernard Vintage Brut, £19.50 (normally £26): 4/5
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IF you like dark, rich and biscuity styles of champers, you will enjoy this. As a vintage, it has spent longer in the cellar, letting it develop more complex, toasty flavours.
Packed with classic brioche and almond notes, with a tasty, savoury finish. It could be fresher but for under £30 the quality is still pretty great.
Les Pionniers Non-Vintage Champagne, £19, The Co-op: 3/5
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THE Co-op’s own-label fizz is made by champers house Piper-Heidsieck so no wonder it scores highly in tastings every year.
Crisp and clean in the flute, with floral notes of orange peel, there is not loads going on but it is refreshing, easy-going, delicious and an absolute no-brainer luxury treat given the price tag under twenty quid.
Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut Champagne, £21: 4/5
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SASSY and classy, the price might look high for own-label fizz but the contents are top-notch. Premier Cru is the gold standard and means the grapes are from posh vineyards and a step up from those used to make a standard bottle.
Refreshing and floral with just enough fruit. A great all-rounder priced well for what it is.
