Champagne is always a good idea. But what happens if you can’t finish a bottle? That’s where half bottles come in.
The high-scoring half bottles below are some of our reviewers’ favorite selections, and they’ll probably become yours too. Note: the prices below are for 750 mL bottles.
Krug NV Ros茅 24猫me Edition Brut (Champagne); $299, 97 points. The balance between maturity and fruit in this Champagne is exemplary. It gives both ripeness to the red-currant fruits and a fine nutty richness that meld together seamlessly. This is a beautiful wine, perfectly ready to drink but also sure to age well in bottle. Mo毛t Hennessy USA. 鈥擱oger Voss
Billecart-Salmon NV Brut Ros茅 (Champagne); $85, 92 points. The palest of ros茅s, this is an elegant, structured wine. Its dryness is balanced by the fine apple and red-currant fruits and the strong sense of minerality. Fragrant and lightly structured, this fine bottling is ready to drink. Billecart Salmon USA. 鈥擱.V.
Bollinger NV Special Cuv茅e Brut (Champagne); $79, 92 points. Dominated, as always, by Pinot Noir and with wood fermentation and aging, this Champagne has a great poise between freshness and richness. It is intense and ripe, with apple and minerality coming together. The bottling is ready to drink. Vintus LLC. 鈥擱.V.
Charles Heidsieck NV Brut R茅serve (Champagne); $69, 92 points. An extra touch of aging before disgorgement has given this Champagne a fine balance. Hints of toast as well as tight acidity have come from the equal blend of the three main grapes. The fruitiness is still very present, offering crisp citrus to balance the edge of maturity. Drink now. Folio Fine Wine Partners. 鈥擱.V.
Louis Roederer NV Brut Premier (Champagne); $60, 92 points. Always a fine nonvintage cuv茅e, this richly textured Champagne has weight to go with the wine’s structured fruitiness. White fruits are laced with lime juice and this bottling has a hint of age in its nutty background. Drink now. Maisons Marques & Domaines USA. 鈥擱.V.
Ruinart NV Blanc de Blancs Brut (Champagne); $83, 92 points. With its 100% Chardonnay, this Champagne is finely textured, elegant with minerality and the freshest crispest apple flavors. It does have some weight and certainly has intensity鈥攁 satisfying, textured wine that is ready to drink. Mo毛t Hennessy USA. 鈥擱.V.
Laurent-Perrier NV La Cuv茅e Brut (Champagne); $50, 91 points. The nonvintage cuv茅e from this producer is definitely on the dry side. Like many Champagnes in the range, it has benefited from long aging before release, giving a wine that has richness as well as great fruits, hints of maturity coming through. Drink now. Laurent-Perrier US. 鈥擱.V.
Deutz NV Brut Classic (Champagne); $45, 90 points. The elegance of this nonvintage cuv茅e sums up the style of the house, balancing acidity with a dosage that is just right. The white fruits and tangy edge are refreshing and intense. Drink the bottling now. Vision Wine Brands. 鈥擱.V.
Mo毛t & Chandon NV Brut Imp茅rial (Champagne); $44, 90 points. Attractively poised between softness and crispness, this best-selling Champagne is packed with ripe white fruits that are given a lift by the tight acidity. Its reliability and the increasing dryness and freshness of the wine are exemplary. This bottling is ready to drink. Mo毛t Hennessy USA. 鈥擱.V.