Often, the way we buy things, including wine, is by the brand name. Frequently, we end up paying for the packaging, the advertising, and the prestige, in addition to what’s in the bottle. Fortunately, when it comes to wine, there are a lot of excellent options to ensure you’re paying for what’s in the bottle—and less than you might think!

 ‘Tis the season (although I think about it all year long) that the average wine consumer starts to think about celebrations and Champagne. As I have said before, speaking about other wines, to me, the most important element of choosing a wine besides your budget and taste is the vintage.  Was it a good year or a bad year? When you see NV on a Champagne label, this does not mean the Champagne was made in Nevada. It means non-vintage. They take a blend of grapes from bad years and good years and blend them. They then adjust the sugar level at the end and to create a consistent "House Style.” The same houses that produce these Champagnes all produce a product with a vintage that sometimes costs you $100 more than the NV or non-vintage offering. So, in most cases, buying a NV Champagne is what most people can afford.

 At ABC Fine Wine and Spirits, we are very fortunate to give you the opportunity to drink not only a quality, vintage Champagne, but a quality "Millésime" Champagne. Millésime Champagne is vintage Champagne that is only produced in exceptional years. Sounds expensive, doesn't it? What if I told you you could buy this Millésime Champagne for a price close to that of a NV Champagne?  

 Jean Noël Haton is the grandson of Octave Haton, who started the Haton Champagne Winery back in 1928. It is located in a new facility in the heart of the Champagne Region in the town of Damery and run by Jean Noël and his son Sébastien. Since they are small fish in a very large pond of large brand name Champagne houses, they have the good fortune of not having to purchase grapes from every vineyard in the world. They only buy grapes from the top vineyards in Champagne, known as Grand Cru and Premier Cru. The Haton products we carry are a NV Champagne, a NV Brut Rosé, a Vintage Blanc de Blancs and my favorite, the 2005 Millésime. As I said, Millésime is only made in exceptional years and 2005 was one of them.

 The blend is 40% Pinot Noir and 60% Chardonnay. The bubbles are fine and elegant. It has a beautiful balance between acidity and fruit and goes down very smoothly. I love this stuff! The 2005 Haton Millésime offers every guest the opportunity to drink the best quality Champagne for the best price ratio at ABC. The regular price is $41.99, and at the time of this writing it is on sale for $35.99. You don't have to be a Certified Sommelier to make an educated decision on this one—vintage Millésime Champagne that drinks as if cost $150 a bottle or more, priced to compete with non-vintage Champagne.  

 You can't drink the name so why not drink the best Champagne?

 2005 Haton Millésime. I'll drink to that! 

Guest blogger Larry Baker is the wine consultant in our Pembroke Pines store. You can see more of his wine reviews at his website: www.larrythewineguy.net