I've drunk Champagne that costs twenty times as much as this bottle.
Some of it was worth every penny.
Some of it was a very expensive lesson.
And somehow, I keep coming back to a $50 bottle of Louis Roederer Collection.
I know. It's not Cristal. (Although Roederer makes that too.)
It's not Krug, either. Though I suspect someone at Roederer has enjoyed a glass or two.
And it doesn't have the remarkable backstory of Madame Clicquot.
But here's what interests me more.
Roederer builds each Collection around a particular harvest, then blends in wines saved from previous years. Some are kept in oak, others in a reserve that's been built up over time.
All to make a Champagne that's fresh, rich, and balanced.
That's an awful lot of thought for something you can pick up while buying toilet paper at Costco.
And that's what I love about it.
Someone obsessed over the grapes, the blend, and the balance.
All I have to do is pull the cork.
Because in the end, the story might get me interested. What's in the glass gets me to buy another bottle.
(Here's a little secret. Buy an extra bottle, store it properly for five years, and see what magic comes out.)
So next time you're staring at that wall of orange Veuve Clicquot boxes, take a look around.
You might find something more interesting.
And have enough left over for oysters.
One rabbit hole worth exploring: How Roederer makes Collection. It's a fascinating look at what goes into a bottle most people walk right past.
Next time: Dom Pérignon. Is it worth $250, or are we just paying for the name?
(I've spent enough money finding out.)
Cheers,
Manj
Dose & Pour
P.S. Know someone who always buys Veuve? Forward this to them. (They can thank you later.)
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