I'm a huge fan of champagne and sparkling wines. In general, they are easy to drink (other than the "cardboardy" stuff), complement food surprisingly well, and usually make for a great time. I've got my favorites and usually opt for Veuve Clicquot's "Yellow Label" for a nice occasion. For ~$40, it's a beautiful champagne. When our friends found it for ~$33/bottle, they bought several cases of it and it quickly became our "day-to-day" drinking champagne. Yup...I'm spoiled. The problem is that it's pretty much the only champagne I've been drinking for the last year or so...well, it's not really a problem....once again, I'm spoiled.
My wife came home last week with a 1/2 case of Perrier Jouet Grand Brut per the recommendation of a local wine shop. I've tried it before a while back, but couldn't remember how I felt about it. I couldn't wait to retry it, so I cracked a bottle that night with some friends...I was surprised and awed at this wine. I find that the Veuve is great for its acidity and crisp finish. The Perrier Jouet has some citrus notes, but in contrast to the Veuve, is a much more balanced and polished wine, full in the mouth, and simply delicious. At $32/bottle, it's not over the top expensive, and I would highly recommend it for upcoming holiday meals and events. Unfortunately, I have a new problem...the 1/2 case is already gone.