The top rated Christmas bubbly here in Audlem – at just £3.99

When Which magazine assembled an expert tasting panel to try in a 'blind tasting' a range of champagnes and other bubblies recently, the big champagne houses were in for a shock. One of the highest rated was Marques de Monistrol Vintage Cava, which was considered just as good as the famous Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin champagne, which normally sells at around £25 a bottle, and way ahead of the market leader, Moet & Chandon. And today the Independent newspaper's wine expert Anthony Rose confirms that judgement when he puts Marques de Monistrol at #1 in his 50 Best Wines for Christmas list.

The really good news is that this fantastic value, top rated bubbly is in Audlem's Co-op at the astonishing price of £3.99. The wine was checked out by some local expert drinkers earlier this week who agreed totally with the Which panel. So it's good to find that so eminent a connoisseur as Anthony Rose has endorsed the Audlem tasters' view. Mr Rose said: "This cava, made from a blend of local Catalonian grape varieties by secondary fermentation in the bottle (we're not supposed to call it methode champenoise any more, but that's what it is) is refreshingly light, crisp and lemony with a tangy, appley bite to it. The perfect party fizz." Which is just what we said too in Audlem!

Marques de Monistrol is reduced to £3.99 from its normal £7.99 at the Co-op until New Year's Eve. On Audlem Online this week, we've been publishing so many more reasons, to coin a phrase, to shop locally this Christmas. £3.99 for the best bubbly in the land could just be 'Reason #1'

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