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Champagne Performance

Sparkling Wines Taste.

About the only performance criterion for cheap sparkling wine is the way it tastes, and sparkling wine reviews are generally laudatory about our picks for best cheap champagnes.

According to the sparkling wine reviews we read, experts and consumers tend to favor products that best imitate the qualities of real Champagne. Among the imitators, few rank higher in taste and value for the dollar than some of the Spanish cava sparkling wines.

Fox News calls Spanish cava the "Champagne killer" and suggests that Freixenet Gordon Brut Extra Dry would make just the right complement to an eggs Benedict brunch on New Year's day. This cheap sparkling wine is made according to the traditional Champenoise method, and champagnes reviews posted on the Freixenet site from experts like Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, and Wine Trials 2011 praise its clean and crisp palate and blend of citrus, apple, and apricot flavors that leave an overall impression of a sparkler that seems oh-so-French. Consumers posting sparkling wines reviews on Snooth.com like its full fruit flavors, gentle spicy finish, and a sweetness that steers clear of cloying.

Another champagne substitute, Roederer Estate Brut NV, is highly recommended in an expert sparkling wine review in The New York Times. This sparkling wine hails from a cuvee made of oak-aged wines of chardonnay and pinot noir grapes that convey overtones of caramel and cherry. Sparkling wine reviews on Wine.com cite comments from experts like Wine & Spirits and Wine Spectator, which note the cinnamon hues and fresh apple and pear flavors; they also say this is a sparkler that delivers value well above its selling price. Consumers' sparkling wine reviews commend the crisp clean taste, surprisingly full body, and easy pairing with foods or stand-alone drink.

Another much appreciated sparkling wine is the Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut NV, which has garnered a number of awards in local wine-tasting competitions as well as an international business class airline competition. Sparkling wine reviews on Snooth.com say this champagne substitute doesn't disappoint, is lively and vibrant, and displays fruity notes with a slight acidic edge.

Review continues below

By contrast, the super-cheap Korbel Brut is described as rough, sour, and short on real taste. Remember, though, there's no substitute for personal preference. Be guided by the sparkling wines reviews but in the end, trust your own palate. Within the budget you've set for yourself, you will certainly find a cheap sparkling wine that satisfies.

by Raechel Conover (Google+ Profile)

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Best Cheap Champagne

Roederer Estate NV Brut

Read why »
Where to buy

Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut NV

 Read why »
Where to buy

Good Cheap Champagne

Freixenet Cordon Negro Extra Dry

 Read why »
Where to buy
 
 
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Don't Bother Cheap Champagne

Korbel Brut

Korbel Brut is readily available and often put forward as a cheap option in the sparkling wine category. Experts say the bubbles are rough and consumers complain of a tart, short finish and a sour, plastic-like aftertaste although some consider it an option for champagne cocktails.

Read more »

 
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