Cremant de Bourgogne by Thomas Collardot NV

You should always have a handful of bottles of this sparkler on hand for impromptu parties (because a sudden Tuesday night fete with your pals is, of course, better with bubbly). This wallet-friendly "Blanc de Blancs" drinks like an expensive French Champagne, with a rich, yeasty nose and body to match. It's called a "Cremant de Bourgogne," the official name for a sparkling wine in Burgundy in France (that meets certain production and quality requirements). Definitely worth a serious look. Your friends will swear they're drinking Champagne worth 2-3 times what you paid!

Thomas Collardot's Cremant de Bourgogne shows uniform bubbles and a complex nose that reveals aromas of ripe fruit, brioche, white flowers and sweet almond. There is a pure, elegant minerality on the palate with a lasting, flavourful finish.