NV Loimer Extra Brut ($25)
Made by the champagne method, this bone-dry organic Austrian fizz is citrusy and highly elegant, with soft bubbles.
NV Roederer Estate Brut ($28)
Crisp, citrusy, and creamy-textured, this wine made at Champagne Roederer’s California outpost in Mendocino is better than bottles costing twice the price.
NV Bruno Dangin Cremant de Bourgogne Rosé ($29)
Dangin’s organic vineyards are a stone’s throw from the Champagne region. His classy pinot noir-based rosé fizz has purity and texture.
When Only Champagne Will Do
NV Sotheby’s Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne ($37)
The well-known Legras Champagne house creates this light, citrusy fizz from grand cru vineyards. It is served in Sotheby’s board room.
NV Delamotte Brut ($40)
One of my go-to chardonnay-based champagnes, it always offers great elegance and finesse.
NV Pierre Gerbais Grains de Celles Extra Brut ($45)
The Cote de Bar region is full of hot young champagne makers like Aurelien Gerbais. His basic cuvee is rich-textured, with smoky minerality.
NV Drappier Brut Nature Zero Dosage ($48)
Super dry zero dosage champagnes are all the rage, and this one, from a highly respected producer, is one of the best.
NV Lanson Green Label ($50)
Lanson, the 9th largest champagne brand, debuted their first cuvee from organically grown grapes in 2017. It’s citrusy, with a green herb complexity.
NV Eric Rodez Cuvee des Crayeres Brut ($50)
Rodez makes this brisk, spicy, apple-y cuvee with floral aromas from biodynamically grown pinot noir and chardonnay.
Bright Whites
2018 Pewsey Vale Dry Riesling Eden Valley Australia ($17)
Why don’t people drink more riesling? This Australian producer makes nothing else, and this basic bottling is lime-scented, dry, succulent, even vegan-friendly.