CONOR POPElooks at sparkling wine

Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Rose €10

Who doesn’t love pink fizz on a festive occasion? Some people might look down their noses at Jacob’s Creek because the brand was everywhere when we were finding our feet in the wine world 20 years ago. It is well known and widely available but it is also lovely, and at €10, great value for money. It is the cheapest sparkling wine we found this time out and has a complexity of flavours that are somewhat surprising with the citrus hints complemented by the strawberries in the Pinot Noir.

Verdict:excellent (at this price) *****

Georges D’Albot Champagne €20

This champagne is not as well known as some of the big names on the market but is easily their match. It was half-price in our local Tesco last week and, at this level, it’s a bargain – but not at its full price however. It is less dry than some of its competitors and has a robust and full-bodied complexity that is appealing. There appears to be a lot more fizz per glass than we found in the other bottles. It is not the kind of bubbly that you would add orange juice to on a Christmas morning, unless you were feeling super flash.

Verdict: Great at this price ****

Marques de Monistrol Cava €10.99

We found this in the excellent Sweeney’s Wine Merchants in Glasnevin and were very impressed. This frequently comes out on top in taste tests, and at this price, it is very good value for money – although we have seen it selling in other places for €6 more. It is very dry and has the subtlety of a good champagne without the sometimes ridiculous price tag. There is a hint of vanilla in the mix and a nice crispness to it. The bubbles are lighter and less intense than we found elsewhere and it is easy to drink (too easy in fact). It is also widely available and will be found in most good off-licences.

Verdict:Excellent value *****

Comte de Brismand Champagne €17.99

While the champagne we bought in Tesco was on special, this is the everyday price of the fizz we found in Lidl. It has a nice tanginess to it and the citrus flavours of the Chardonnay shine through. It is cheap and cheerful and, according to a poster in our local Lidl, it recently “outperformed big brands such as Moët et Chandon and Veuve Clicquot” in a Which magazine taste test earlier this year. We’re not sure it is that good but it is certainly grand, and while it may not be robust enough to have with heavily seasoned food, it is perfectly pleasant.

Verdict: Good value ****