Gift of champagne

[MAH]

A few friends were just elected partners at their respective law firms. I'd like to send them each a nice bottle of champagne...Dom Perignon? any other suggestions?

[ibstatguy]

the question, implied or otherwise or some posts, has merit: are you purchasing the wine to please palates or egos (of receipients or others)? your friends may well have preferences and that should be your starting point.

[zin1953]

The answer is simple, and predicated on one simple thing: do your friends know anything about/really like Champagne?

(OK, two things: how much do you really want to spend?)

If they do not, and the object is to impress: get the Dom (or the Cristal). These are the two names EVERYONE knows, and they will be impressed! On the other hand, if they are seriously into Champagne, then they already know there are a number of better choices out there. (In other words, I agree completely with Dinwiddie.) Any of the several vintage-dated Krug bottlings, or Salon would be superb. Also, if you can find it, Bollinger RD . . .

[rickym13]

agree 100% with dinwiddie and zin1953. if they don't know much about wine and champagne...i would go with dom or cristal.
if they are into fine wine....go with krug.

[tacostacoseverywhere]

Me three. would add Salon to the list if they belong to the latter group.

[Spiritchaser]

I disagree with everyone that linked the gift to impressing someone. The OP stated these were friends not business associates. The DP/Cristal is the lazy choice and it shows no involvement in the thought of the gift.

[zin1953]

It has nothing to do with laziness.

The fact is that people who know NOTHING about Champange will have heard of, and be impressed by, a wine like Dom Pérignon or Cristal. But virtually anyone who knows and enjoys French Champagne will also know that there are better wines out there.

As with MOST gifts, the key is to please the recipient, not the giver.

Cheers,
Jason

[dinwiddie]

I have friends and relatives who are more impressed with "name" wines than wines that I, and everyone else I consider a wine geek, consider to be much better. If I had a choice of giving a bottle of Opus One or a bottle of Karl Lawrence Herb Lamb Vineyard to my brother in law, he'd want the Opus every time.

[rickym13]

yep. top name brand for wine is still:

opus one
far niente
silver oak
caymus
dom
cristal

[whiner]

EXACTLY what zin1953 said.

A few others to throw out there that are far superior, imo.

'95 and '96 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne.
'96 Veuve Cliquot La Grande Dame
Any Salon
Any Krug with a vintage date
Any Billecart-Salmon 'Cuvee Elisabeth', 'Blanc de Blancs, 'Grande Cuvee', or 'Clos Saint Hilaire'
'96 Philopinat Clos de Goises
'96 Bollinger R.D.

I would, however reccomend against the '95 Bollinger RD. '96, is EXCELLENT, but the '95 is a bit sub-par, imo. I mean, it is great, but not up to what it should be.

[dinwiddie]

If you are looking to impress, and to give a great champagne, try to get a Krug, either the Brut Champagne or the Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Clos du Mesnil from 1995 or 1996 (both fantastic years for champagne.) If you can't find those vintages (and they did just release some of them recently) look for the Non-vintage Krug Brut Grand Cuvee. Cristal is passe, and Dom is predictable. Krug, while also well known is also excellent. (Personally, I think the Billecart-Salmon Rose is fantastic, but it is not in the same price/impress class as the others.)

[FrankJBN]

As a partnership gift stick with Dom or Roederer's Cristal. This isn't about any idiosyncratic quality of a wine. This is about recognition of a power gift.

[MMRuth]

I was given a bottle of 1993 DP when I graduated from law school in 2001 - drank it a year later - what a treat. My "go to" champagne is Veuve Clicquot, and I do love La Grande Dame.

[LNG212]

I definitely agree. We get the Veuve Clicquot ponsardin (orange label) regularly. And for a special occasion or a gift, most certainly the Grande Dame. We enjoy it much more than Dom Perignon.

[rickym13]

i just had 96' dom and 96' cristal and they are both great wine! i like 96' dom over cristal but....

[ibstatguy]

any '96 is likely to please...

[Spiritchaser]

Oh yeah. My absolutely slam dunk favorite Champagne - Billecart-Salmon Rose. Not readily available in all regions but if you can find it this will impress. Ultra fine bubbles, wonderful nose, and hints of buttered toast, must drink it to believe it. If you want to go with a more widely known name go Krug

[steve h.]

the billecourt salmon rose (nv) is a fun wine. it's a tasty blend (40% chardonnay, 40% pinot noir & 20% pinot meunier). it's moderately priced and may send a better, more festive, message than the more expensive dom perignon. either way, you can't go wrong.