It may seem odd to call a wine “great value” when it retails at $100 a bottle. But that depends on the region, and where vineyard prices are staggeringly high, such as in Champagne, Burgundy, and Napa, $100 should be considered good value. In Champagne, for example, land price is almost 100 times more expensive than in Languedoc!

Great Champagnes are easy to recommend. Not only should we always have a few bottles on hand for special occasions, but you can also be sure of getting high quality wine at this price. And for a wondrous vintage like 2008, Champagne’s enchantment is even clearer.

The 2008 vintage for Champagne is full of class and pedigree. It was not initially considered an easy vintage after a cold and wet early spring, which repeated in August before the mildew was under control. The bright, sunny weeks in September saved what could have been a long but gloomy growing season. The best wines from this single vintage show a combination of structure, concentration, classic cool-climate freshness, and the composed austerity, all of which give the wine great aging potential. After a few years of aging in the bottle, most 2008s are starting to benefit from the yeasty, brioche autolysis which should be more woven and chiseled to the fruit now.

As much as I love drinking Champagne, I also have to acknowledge that it is indeed a much hyped and heavily marketed drink that responds particularly well to branding. For many, this means emotional bonds based on the brands, styles, packaging, or the history of a particular house are often considered before the taste of the wine itself. Indeed, Champagne is more of a lifestyle than a wine for some.

Discussions about Champagne brands are endless, and they can get fierce and sometimes a bit nerdy. The well-known commercial brands are often dismissed by those who prefer grower Champagnes made by the Champenois, but those who defend the big houses always talk about consistency and the massive blending possibilities behind these wines.

But the top vintage editions of those big brands now deliver much more personality than ever. In fact, the discussions about brands are not that relevant here. In the end, it is not a fancy Dom Perignon nor a cult Jacques Selosse you are drinking, but the melted stars of the cosmos, that seamlessly dissolve on the palate and sparkle inside your imagination.

Below, we have selected 12 bottles of 2008 Vintage Champagne, and most are from the Champagne houses/maisons with consistent and noticeable quality, and they are not difficult to find.

– Zekun Shuai, associate editor in Beijing

12 great value 2008 vintage Champagnes

Champagne Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Non Dosé Chardonnay 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 2008 – JS96 
Available at Vivino : $84.99

Billecart-Salmon Champagne Vintage 2008 – JS96
Available at KLWines.com: $79.9 (At Discount Now!)
Available at Wine.com: $99.99

Laurent-Perrier Champagne Brut Millésimé 2008 – JS95 
Available at Vivino: $67.98
Available at KLWines.com: $69.9
Available at Wine.com : $79.99
Available at Vivino: $79.99

Lanson Gold Label 2008 – JS94
Available at KLWines.com: $89.99
Available at Vivino: $89

Philipponnat Champagne Grand Blanc Extra-Brut 2008 – JS94 
US Average Price : $91

Pol Roger Champagne Vintage 2008 – JS94 
US Average Price : $96

Louis Roederer Champagne Vintage 2008 – JS94 
Available at Vivino : $99.99

Thiénot Champagne Brut Vintage 2008 – JS94 
International Price : $63

Jeeper Champagne La Grande Cuvée Brut 2008 – JS94 
International Price : $81

Ayala Blanc de Blancs Brut 2008 – JS93 
Available at Wine.com : $76.99
Available at Vivino : $76.99

Drappier Grande Sendrée Brut 2008 – JS93 
Available at Zachys .com: $89.99

Taittinger Champagne Brut Millesime 2008 – JS93 
US Average Price : $89