Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial NV

Well, what can you say about this? Moët & Chandon is probably one of the world's most recognizable brands, and the image of their brut non-vintage champagne is probably what most people conjure up when Moët is mentioned.

For me, sparkling wine is a convenience. It comes in handy, whether it's for an aperitif, a gift, a desert wine, a celebration or even just for the heck of it. It's versatile. It's also expensive: it's labour intensive to produce, it requires cellaring, and it usually has the kind of markup reserved for luxury goods, especially if it's Champagne.

The taste? Meh. I'm usually pretty underwhelmed, probably because I rarely, if ever, pay more than £15 for a bottle, whether it's Champagne or not. I just can't afford to pay more.

Having said all that, this particular Champagne is noticeable a step up from non-Champagne region sparkling wines. It's just of a different class. Fine mousse, moreish flavours, and a refreshing crispness that other sparkling wines lack.

It usually retails for £20 - £30. I don't think it's worth the money. But if you can get it cheaper (I got mine at a Virgin Wines internet auction for about £14 a bottle) then it's a perfectly good example of a well made Champagne that won't break the bank.

Moët & Chandon
Brut Impérial NV
Champagne, France
Widely available
3.5/5