Unmasking the Champagne Conspiracy!

[mrdutton]

Roberto - I appreciate your comments and although I can not speak so much from experience as from knowledge, have to whole heartedly agree with you. My personal research has shown me that the best Champagnes come from the smaller "houses" where the grower is also the winemaker.

The problem in my area is that the distributors don't carry anything much else than the champagnes and sparkling wines favored by the "masses". So for me to find a Champagne produced by the grower/winemaker is almost impossible unless I travel great distances to far-off places like NYC (which I don't get to do very often).

I also keep checking the various sources on the internet who will sell to me, but have not had much luck there, either. (Finding any out-of-state wine merchant who will sell directly to someone in Virginia is quite difficult!)

I did buy a bottle of 1989 Krug recently as a special present for my Parents and also purchased a bottle for myself. However, it remains unopened until I find an excuse for a special occasion.

In the meantime, I'll be consuming sparkling wines from California such as Schramsberg and Iron Horse and Roederer (sp?) (if I can find it!) as I diligently search for the really good stuff from France.