Can Someone Tell Us The Taste Between A Fine Cristal or Dom Perignon Compared To A $30 CA Bottle?!
Can Someone Tell Us The Taste Between A Fine Cristal or Dom Perignon Compared To A $30 CA Bottle?
If you are a fine champagne connoisseur, could you really do a blind taste test and distinguish the difference between $300 bottles of Dom Perignon or Cristal compared to a decent $30 bottle of CA champagne?
What would you be trying to discern in flavor and bubbles, smell, smoothness, kick, etc?
I haven't had the opportunity to drink the real expensive stuff yet, but I am trying to imagine if the high cost of really expensive champagne is that much of a difference from a $30-100 bottle of CA or French Brut
Answers: If, and only if, you were a true connoisseur could you discern a high priced vintage from say a decent bottle. This is because you have been trained and no doubt sampled thousands of vintages and made copious notes on all. It is a practiced art and there are not that many experts in the world.
I myself have taken a number of courses in oenology and you learn all the proper things to look for and appreciate in wine and champagne. However, if the instructor is pressed, he (she) will tell you that your senses tell you what you like best and not the text, instructor or wine steward.
The justification for the higher prices is the dryness, texture, bouquet, taste and continuing smaller bubbles. Dryness has universal agreement, the dryer the better. Same for the bubbles, the smaller and the longer they flow the better. For the most part, it is generally agreed that texture should be creamy, smooth, velvety, pick an adjective. Bouquet is rather subjective, suffice it to say that it should be pleasant, all offer slight differences and some even radical differences like Bollinger RD, which always reminds me of a still white wine. Taste is the most subjective because our descriptions tend to be rather poetic, almost romantic, not enough common denominators here.
At the end of the day, pricey product has a cachet if you get my drift. As for me, I drink what I like and that Veuve Cliquot at $20 is fine with me. ya whatever I've tried a them all and no, they aren't worth it.
Most people fool themselves into thinking something is really great if they think they know how much it is....double the price on anything and its instantly better, y'know?
Veuve Cliquot is about as good as it gets - and its about 20 bucks a bottle.
Real Shame they stopped producing the demi-sec....that was good stuff.
Anyhow - yeah, I've drank my fill of them - thats why I dont drink anymore, haha. It would depend on how developed your palate is. The vast majority of people can not tell the difference in a blind taste taste.
It also depends on what you can afford...If $300 is a lot of money to you, it is a waste to buy the expensive stuff, even if you can taste the difference.
Yes, all of the factors you listed are relevant, but we are talking about very small differences here.
I suggest you start cheap and work your way up. Concentrate on what you like and not snob appeal. Consider also Spanish wines...you can get some very good value at lower price points. it's funny you ask this...because in a NATIONAL TASTE TEST, they tasted a VERY expensive bottle of burgundy (or was it merlot...?) well, either way it was that and a two-buck chuck of the same wines, and found that the cheaper was the best! in fact, IT WON THE COMPETITION, HANDS DOWN!!!!!
....so never be fooled! I have to tell you- yes, there really is a difference, and it is really obvious once you get to taste both. The better, more classic champagnes are richer, have a creamier texture, and a more yeasty finish.
You can find great domestic sparkling wines. Look for one called Gruet from New Mexico (of all places!). It less than $20 and really great. It's actually owned by the younger son of one of the big French champagne houses. There is a difference, it beginns with the smells... You don't need to be a Sommelier you just need a good nose. But if you are one you must certainly can identify not only the brand, but the name of the grape, and the place the grape is grown.
Flavor between them is different, if you'd try a zip from veuve cliquot, cristal and moet chandon like in wine tasting you'll see..
Personally I prefer Moet Chandon Rosee or Nectar Imperial... try the second one and see how flavors in Champagne can be different and just for 40 to 50 bucks is worth it...
To say all of them are alike or the same, is a simple ignorant affirmation. It's like saying all red wine tastes the same... C'mon!!!!