I tested all the supermarket Champagne for under £20 – Aldi winner was £5 cheaper than Sainsbury's bubbly

The Sun

6 hours ago

WHEN it comes to popping the cork on a bottle of real French bubbly, don't think you have to splash out a fortune for a famous bottle brand.
Some of the best fizz can be found on supermarket shelves for bargain prices.
Aldi's Veuve Monsigny was voted the world's best champagne, despite costing just £14.95 a bottle.
But it is not the only budget champers worth sipping.
Wine expert Helena Nicklin samples what is on offer in the supermarkets for less than £20 and gives her verdicts.
Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut NV
£14.95 Aldi
THIS corker has been top of the pops among wine writers for ages, with plenty of us singing its praises.
And following its triumph at the World Champagne Awards, that is now official.
Key fizz grapes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are blended together to create these bubbles but the real surprise is the depth of those spiced brioche and baked apple flavours.
A delicious flute that proves you don't have to spend a fortune on a famous name.
You simply don't get better champagne bang for your buck than this.
Stock up now for the summer, while you still can.
5/5
Wine expert taste tests the newest supermarket dupe of Whispering Angel
Etienne Dumont Champagne Brut NV
£14.95 Sainsbury's
A FROTHY French fizz, this classic champagne blend is not a bad budget option to consider for less than 15 quid.
In your flute, this will give you a little almond, a little green apple and a little toast flavour. It also has a satisfyingly deep colour.
In the mouth, though, it's maybe just a tad weedy and thin, with bubbles that don't last as long as they could.
But it's a perfect candidate for champagne cocktails and at this price, it works.
A good standby supermarket-saver bottle or one to grab any time when you want real bubbly without a bonkers price tag.
2/5
Henri Cachet Champagne Brut NV
£14.98 Asda
ASDA's cheaper champers is a gentle, mid-way style that should keep everyone happy.
Well below the price of a bottle of any famous branded fizz, this froth is soft and creamy.
It is more about fresh pastry flavours than tart and tangy apple and has a lovely, almost vanilla-like aroma.
Perhaps less complex than some fizzes at the same price. But that isn't a problem because it's still highly gluggable even when enjoyed alone.
Perfect for parties, nicely chilled, or any special occasion where you would like to raise a glass of the real thing but don't fancy breaking the bank.
3/5
Comte de Senneval Champagne Brut NV
£9.99, Lidl in store
THESE bubbles have done well for Lidl, for good reason.
And currently reduced from £13.99 to £9.99, they are a serious bargain.
What you get here is not perhaps the poshest or most refined of French fizzes, with its savoury, clunky mineral notes and a whiff of something like cheese rind, but there's a lot of flavour there.
And of course you are still popping the cork on a bottle of the real deal.
For me, this is one to serve well chilled and sip with party canapés – or some nibbles and snacks if you are drinking at home, to soften it up a bit.
A tasty tipple and great value for your hard-earned money.
3/5
Louis Delaunay Brut Champagne NV
£15, Tesco
HATS off to French fizz-maker Louis Delaunay and Tesco for managing to bring this in at such an affordable price.
Super value for money, this delivers a proper champers experience, loaded with all the toasty apple goodness you could ever want.
It's a lovely golden colour, too, so looks pretty in the glass.
The only downside for me is a slight lack of freshness on the finish. Nothing a good chill can't sort out, though.
Get this one nice and cold in the fridge before you pop the cork and celebrate what a bargain you've bought. Great as a present, too.
4/5
Pol Guyot Selection Champagne Brut NV
£19, Sainsbury's
I'M a big fan of this fizz, for just under 20 quid, and also love how the 'Pol' nods to the more glamorous and pricey Pol Roger brand for a luxe vibe.
It's a proper bargain, which tastes more expensive than it is.
Definitely a step up in superiority from those £15 club fizzes, for only an extra £4.
Think plenty of apple flavour, with a bit of toast and butter for that exclusive feel.
The finish on this sparkling treat packs a subtly bitter kick that might not be for everyone, so that's something to bear in mind.
But this is a serious sipper for the price, nonetheless.
4/5
Louvel Fontaine Champagne Brut NV
£18.48 Asda
DON'T be fooled into thinking that because the bottle looks less fancy, the fizz inside may disappoint.
Well-known names and glitzy labels are fine but it's the froth in your flute that counts – and this tipple seriously overdelivers for the price.
Despite costing less than 20 quid, it stays crisp and fresh as you drink, while loaded with hazelnut, brioche and citrus flavour.
It's a properly posh-seeming drink that will take you from aperitifs though canapés and even on to a main course, should you like.
Great for parties, gifting, toasts, a night in or anything you fancy really. It's often on offer, too, so keep checking. A real off-the-radar gem.
5/5
Nicolas de Montbart Champagne Brut NV
£13.99 Aldi
ANOTHER French fizz from Aldi at a very affordable price.
It's great that the supermarket chain has sourced a back-up champagne for when its prize-winning Veuve Monsigny dries up, and this is a decent drop.
But the taste is just a little bit generic for my liking, and noticeably sweet.
Think soft, bruised apples and a sprinkling of chopped almonds when you sip – but it could do with increased acidity to balance things up.
One for cocktails rather than sipping on its own, in my opinion.
So a great option for those summer party Kir Royals and knocking up a tasty Buck's Fizz.
2/5