I'm not drinking a widow!

December 11, 2006 5:40 PM

Dateline: Oxford Blue's House, 11:59:59 31/12/2006. You want to celebrate the new year. Do you go with a bottle of: A) Veuve Clicquot B) Moët et Chandon
posted by oxford blue to Food & Drink (17 answers total)

This is a matter of personal taste, but for me, A - Veuve Clicquot.
posted by Joh at 5:42 PM on December 11, 2006

Veuve Clicquot, definitely.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:43 PM on December 11, 2006

Moet and Chandon, because it was mentioned in "Killer Queen".
posted by Jess the Mess at 5:50 PM on December 11, 2006

I'd go with the Veuve, because the bottle is more striking. Dom Perignon invented Champagne, the Veuve Clicquot improved it by figuring out how to get the sediment out of the bottle, I don't know what Moet and Chandon did.
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:01 PM on December 11, 2006

Style & tastebud points: Veuve Clicquot (extra points for the Grande Dame, but the save that for something really special).

For the price of M&C, I'd also look at "J" WIne company's offering if it is available locally to you. Tastier, stylish, less $.
posted by artdrectr at 6:37 PM on December 11, 2006

Moet for sentimental reasons. But Veuve probably tastes better.
posted by unSane at 6:42 PM on December 11, 2006

And brut, please.
posted by unSane at 6:42 PM on December 11, 2006

I just popped open a 1995 Veuve Clicquot Reserve the other night to celebrate my 20th wedding anniversary.

Save the Veuve Clicquot for something really worth celebrating more than just another New Year's Eve.
posted by briank at 7:20 PM on December 11, 2006

I prefer the Moët, I find it drier than the Veuve. But either will do in a pinch.
posted by Wolof at 8:37 PM on December 11, 2006

I like Cava better.

Disclaimer: I still buy things from France.
posted by Pollomacho at 8:51 PM on December 11, 2006

Multiple choice is so limiting - I like a nice Perrier-Jouet in the flower bottle.
posted by ikkyu2 at 9:09 PM on December 11, 2006

With a name like oxfordblue, I would think a bottle of Bollinger would be more appropriate. Really though, champagne is so pricey that it's unreasonable to expect many to be connoisseurs, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. If you're near a Vons/ Safeway (I notice in your profile that you're in Xenon, so I'm not sure if you have them there), they usually have good deals on Veuve at this time of year.

(interesting side note: Moët is pronounced Mo-et, not Mo-ay, although expect people to look at you like you're mad if you say it as it should be)
posted by forallmankind at 9:40 PM on December 11, 2006

Response by poster: Well, if you're buying go right ahead.
posted by oxford blue at 9:42 PM on December 11, 2006

I'd totally go with the Veuve. Most of the serious champagne drinkers think of it as their go-to, all purpose, sexy but not snotty bubbly of choice. Even the bottle is classic and striking with the yellow label.
posted by mostlymartha at 1:01 AM on December 12, 2006

Seconding the Perrier-Jouet. Both Moet and Veuve are naff, I'm told.
posted by Mocata at 5:56 AM on December 12, 2006

Moët is mostly shite. Veuve is slightly better. If you're just worried about taste (i.e. not impressing anyone) then some of the cheaper, less-well known brands are absolutely excellent - seriously. I didn't believe it until we did a tasting course and then organised a tasting session, best of the bunch was a twenty quid bottle from Tesco and it really was excellent.
posted by alby at 9:08 AM on December 12, 2006

Moet's '99 vintage can be gotten quite cheaply if you look around (some people are still selling it for retail, though). And I hear it's drinking well now.

Nicholas Feuillatte isn't bad, is real Champagne, and will set you back about 2/3 the cost of Veuve.
posted by Lycaste at 12:12 PM on December 18, 2006