CHAMPAGNE: BRANDS VS GROWERS

[@sudo_jedi]

Out of all the wine channels out there, this channel is the best! They're so relatable. I like that they have a more honest take on wine and don't put on this fake scripted act with overly complicated terms and all that mess. Every one else would have def rehearsed opening bottles first off camera, but it looks like B learned how to open the bottle for the first time while filming, giving more honest vibes! LOVE THE CHANNEL!

[@OurPourDecisions]

What an incredibly nice thing to write. Really appreciate the feedback.

[@h3llcall]

Surprised that you didn’t include Krug! Now you need to do a Krug vertical episode 😂

[@OurPourDecisions]

Krug is amazing. I am about to try a '02 Krug on 12/18 at A L'aise in Oslo. Can't wait.

[@nemesisxproductions]

When I see an Our Pour Decisions video, I click.

[@OurPourDecisions]

Thank you!! 🫶

[@CembaloMeister]

Loved this episode!! Grower champagnes are by far my favorite. It's just a more hand's-on approach that delivers a truly memorable experience (like that lovely Selosse mentioned).

[@mcwine18]

6:07 💀💀💀💀💀💀 Man, B is really asking great questions and has some great points. You guys are definitely pulling her in! Awesome EP, fun and hilarious!

[@OurPourDecisions]

Thanks 😊 -B

[@apolod]

I love your content and the quality of your video production! For a future video, I have a suggestion: how about hosting a "contest" featuring Syrah/Shiraz-based wines? It would be amazing to see legendary bottles like Colgin IX Estate Syrah, Henschke Hill of Grace, Penfolds Grange, and Chave Hermitage go head-to-head!

[@ydesai1]

excellent video! Y'all have a great vibe, keep it up. I've been drinking wine "seriously" for almost 10 years, and only just now have I been starting to explore champagne. The chief champagne buyer at the major wine shop in my city described it as "the easiest wine to *drink*, but the hardest to *taste*."

[@OurPourDecisions]

I love that description.

[@michaelbereny6783]

What a wonderful channel! I recently did a champagne region stay and found that I preferred the smaller houses. Usually due to the fact that we normally where dealing with a family member telling us about and showing all their different styles. Then on New Years day 2025 my grandson brings a bottle of Dom home. It is a 2015 and we figured to lay it down for another 4-5 years.

[@johnd0e25]

The Pierre Moncuit is a great wine (and great value), I've had the 2006 and 2008, and the 2012 will be opened for Christmas! Glad to see it showed up well today :)

[@sophiewingfield6136]

Loved this video!!! Learned so much about one of my fav drinks, champs!

[@andy90204]

I’m so glad I found your channel! Amazing content, amazing cellar!

[@gmosi8198]

Just like this video …. I can’t pick my favorite episode…. You guys are amazing

[@enthusiastic_amateur]

Agree on the comments about Moncuit and Selosse. Moncuit, Goutorbe and other similar grower-producers really show us all what champagne is all about and what it can do.

[@ozzymandias1475]

Thanks for sharing this! I had my first experience with Krug a few weeks back... would love to see you make a video on that producer!

[@normrubio]

How to properly open a champagne bottle?…. Well with a sword of course! B showed a more humble self. You’re very lucky to have supporting family who’s got a great sense of humor, I really appreciate these vids as a small collector/drinker

[@LewGoldman]

Love your show, thank you for all your hard work. I will be in Napa in a few weeks, do you have any favorites winery experiences there to visit? Thanks so much!

[@OurPourDecisions]

We don't. We've only been there twice but have had great experiences both times. Hope you have a wonderful time! Please send us an email if you have any specific suggestions after having been there. We are planning a trip for April.

[@bentobox238]

I had no idea Champagne underwent Maillard reactions! I thought that was a mistake (mis-steak?), but then I went down a rabbit hole on the chemistry of champagne. Cheers!

[@kid_a6859]

Another great video. Can’t wait for the next one

[@RJHHamersma]

Love this episode 🎉🎉 !! So many true words, although grower champagnes are getting more expensive as well, with e.g. Selosse, Egly-Ouriet, Giraud and many others. The big one I missed is Krug, which is probably the best in my opinion; also marketing and brand like Cristal and Dom Perignon, but also the highest quality. They have no 2012 (yet), so understandable you did not have it in this episode 😊. And I have to agree with B, I would prefer the DP and Cristal 😂🎉 ! The same explanation goes for regular wines. There are also some great lesser known wines, and we are still drawn to the great/big names 🤗. And blind tasting champagnes is so extremely difficult, so agree you didn't do that on this episode. Thanks again for this episode, really loved it !!

[@OurPourDecisions]

Thank you for a great comment! I love Krug, too. - Pops

[@hottuna2006]

Excellent episode from start to finish. B looking fabulous in that black top. I didn't know about the Maillard reaction in Champagne. But Stacey's wrong about DP P2 and P3; They are not re-releases of older vintages. They're first releases of prolonged sur lie. For me, I buy DP and Cristal among others as investments to sell while I buy grower Champagne to drink.

[@OurPourDecisions]

You are correct, and that's what she meant but it didn't come out quite right in the video. Our bad for poor editing. I think I may have mentioned the various "plenitudes" DP refers to. Nice Champagne strategy - I think that says it all!! Cheers!

[@mikeymonty]

I love the last bit with the sabre-ing!!!

[@OurPourDecisions]

Me too! Kudos to Stacey for pulling that off. - Pops

[@carlcadregari7768]

Great video. I get asked a lot what my desert island wine is…..my answer is always champagne. And I always have at least a few bottles in the fridge, cause the old adage is correct, when I’m happy I drink champagne, when I’m sad I drink champagne and then I drink it in between. Cheers.

[@Mewoodguy]

I think I will help you with the leftovers🤓great video

[@Didztr]

It’s the season! I got a champagne tasting next week so I’ve been studying up

[@Fisklina]

My preference is the grower champagnes. My favourite (at least for Pinot) is Egly-Ouriet. Also love Goutourbe, such great value. Their 2008 was really nice, so nice I had to get 10 bottles. I'm glad it's "only" about $77-78 here in Sweden 😅

[@OurPourDecisions]

It was fun researching some of the grower Champagnes. It feels like we'll see more and more great growers start producing Champagne as some of the old barriers disappear and capital is more easily obtained.

[@FridayFishFacts]

I drink a lot of champagne and visited the region in the summer. I went to a few big ones including moet and a few growers. I do like growers, there is some great value there. Some are better than big houses but overall I hate to say it but I pick the big brand. Bollinger is my favourite. Just picked up a Krug that I’m looking forward to trying for the first time. I got to sabre champagne at a restaurant once lol. I don’t know how this channel hasn’t blown up. It’s my favourite on KZbin of any genre.

[@guitar911rock]

I agree! it's great theres so much variety. You'll love the krug. They're technically a grower although owned now by lvmh but the hazelnut / toastyness is to die for! report back here.

[@OurPourDecisions]

Love it - thanks for kind comment.

[@seagatewinesofficial9046]

Two more to try that are kind of crossing the divide between big houses and Grower are, Champagne Drappier Grande Sendree 2012 and Larmandier-Bernier Vieille Vigne Du Levant 2012. Both extraordinary, and both bridge that gap.

[@OurPourDecisions]

I have a bottle of the '10 Drappier. Looking forward to trying it now after reading your comment!

[@seagatewinesofficial9046]

@ I’m biased because I have a great deal of respect and care for the family as I represent their wines in our market but there’s a reason we chose to work with them. The only carbon neutral winery in France, organic and biodynamic operations, 3 generations working in the winery (Andre more just lending his opinions now at 97) but an amazing family with deep connections to the soil. New wine coming soon, Oeneleptic: vintage wines with at least 15 years on lees. Will be worth searching for.

[@artnodulot1525]

with the big names you are sure of what you are buying but connoisseurs often prefer small producers because there is the pleasure of tracking down the nugget as for antique enthusiasts

[@OurPourDecisions]

Agreed.

[@ptg01]

Price is what the market will bear... Grower champagnes provide amazing values !

[@OurPourDecisions]

Agree with both points!

[@manuelrodriguez4743]

Loved it 🥰 For me: Cristal 🍾🥂🎉

[@nashzimbo]

Another great video!!

[@bradkenops5]

Do a video on Saperavi

[@OurPourDecisions]

Had to look it up. Fascinating!

[@johnnewman3316]

Love the outfit B 👌

[@TheDesertWineGuy]

I have never enjoyed Champagne but I did enjoy the video.

[@OurPourDecisions]

I love that! Thank you.

[@hogienomics2724]

You guys are great!!

[@nathantang9964]

what do you guys do for work?

[@TheBobodrink]

The biggest difference is that grower Champagne is ready to drink early, big house Champagne needs much more time to age. You gotta give at least 20-25 years for the big house Champagne to really show its best.

[@Napa1539]

Can you talk about wine glasses like Zalto, Josephinehutte, etc

[@OurPourDecisions]

We might do an episode on glasses at some point. Several viewers have mentioned it.

[@guscastro3222]

Can you all PLEASE do Nebbiolo if there’s any in your cellar?? Or some type of Italian wines?😁

[@OurPourDecisions]

I would love to do some Nebbiolo but I sold a significant portion of my Italian wines a couple of years ago (before we started this channel). I now need to go out and get some more. Barolo and Barbaresco are regions viewers have wanted videos on. Thank you for the feedback!

[@FlintIronstag23]

Interesting video. Maybe in a future episode you can blind taste 3 champagnes from the same house to see if the there is a dramatic difference in quality as the price goes up. For example, Louis Roederer Collection versus Vintage versus Cristal.

[@OurPourDecisions]

Krug NV vs, Vintage vs. Clos du Mesnil? (I like it)

[@FlintIronstag23]

@@OurPourDecisions If that is the tasting you want to do, I would be happy to watch it!

[@S7777]

i love your videos!

[@KettlebellTRX777]

Love the channel Phenomenal

[@barrelvinewhiskeyandwine]

Can you please advise on the glasses you’re using

[@jankarlsson8341]

I'm not 100 percent sure, but the look very similar to Riedel Performance Champagne.

[@OurPourDecisions]

That's exactly right!

[@Keeper3035]

“I don’t know if it went through malolatic fermentation….” Me sipping my $25 Bordeaux from total wine: “ Interesting point” (I have no idea what any of this means)

[@OurPourDecisions]

Malolactic fermentation refers to a process where tart malic acid in wine converts to softer, creamier lactic acid. It makes a big difference to whether a wine feels acidic/sharp vs. soft/round/creamy. The Cristal did not go through malolactic fermentation and therefore had a more acidic, tart feel. In the case of the Cristal, it made it very refreshing and different from the others. I love the comment because we try to "keep it real" but sometimes we geek out. Usually B gets us back on track. - Pops

[@JonasK-vk3nu]

I live at the german/french Boarder, Reims is Like 3 hours by car so i was there couple times. You can easily get there good quality smaller productions for like 25-50€. Big brands i‘d go for Duval Leroy or André Clouet. Luxury I‘d go for Krug. Cheers

[@PanNuestroExpressColinas]

Cristal doesn’t go under any malolactic, only a few vintages, 2008 i believe is one.

[@tonyjerry]

Finally figured out who you remind me of. Thomas Keller

[@OurPourDecisions]

LOL - just don't tell Thomas Keller!

[@austincunkle5579]

What field of work are you in? Curious as to how you made your money

[@FrankQ777]

The best champagne 🍾 I ever had was a magnum Dom 1988 .

[@MagnumPi88]

My all time favourite is Billecart Salmon, every cuvée is exceptional, their Rosé is loved by so many. A smaller house worth seeking is Lacourte Godbillon, delicate beautiful champagne. There is one Champagne made exclusively as a Rosé is Fleur de Mirval (Brad Pitt)

[@carzoomies]

more vids please

[@prestonschram304]

This episode serves up a lively comparison of grower champagnes Goutorbe and Moncuit against grand marque heavyweights Cristal and Dom Perignon. While these grower bottles deliver character and nuance, let's be honest, I would choose both the Cristal and the Dom Perignon ten out of ten times against these two growers. While I agree 100% that Cristal and Dom P are overpriced, I would have liked to see a more competitive comparison on the grower side like Pierre Peters, Vilmart, Bereche, Egly-Ouriet, Rodez, Ulysse Collin, or Ledru.

[@OurPourDecisions]

I think you should try a private blind tasting - would be fun to do. Stylistically, the four Champagnes are so different that it's hard to pick one. The occasion really matters.

[@prestonschram304]

@@OurPourDecisions Absolutely, a blind tasting strips the brand name/label out of the equation for sure. That said, it's hard to shark the allure of Cristal and Dom Perignon's polished opulence. Thanks for the suggestion-- and cheers to the journey of discovery.

[@georgiefong3636]

By any chance Pops is a voice actor for advertisement? Sonar?

[@megatrendy1]

I looked this vid several times, but I still don‘t know your preferences! P.S.: I have crearly understood that every of these Champagnes was very good!

[@OurPourDecisions]

We didn't have a strong preference and that should say a lot since the "big brand" Champagnes were 3x price. Stylistically, they are so different so occasion matters. B clearly went for the brands (as long as she's not paying - lol).

[@megatrendy1]

@@OurPourDecisions many thanks!👍👍👍

[@navarra4]

Hey. Your last video was 3 weeks ago. That is way too long to go without drinking fine wine.

[@yachtfangirl]

Hello from Finland. Your 'about' section here in YT has no information at all. Please do add some, perhaps make an 'about us' video too?

[@OurPourDecisions]

We'll get on it.

[@23905970]

FYI B you need to be a VIP at a luxury store to get the champagne so it’s really not free and not everyone gets it at Louis Vuitton lol

[@OurPourDecisions]

She can always hope....lol

[@itsP0rky]

Kinda disappointed you guys didn't' talk about the reason the hip hop community boycotted cristal...

[@matthewstroud7721]

"I tried to get that fart but..." in any other context would've been weird.

[@Gr3kiZon3]

After watching several of your videos I just don't understand what this channel is about? The only vibe I get is "American high upperclass marketing their wealth via cellar content". Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[@OurPourDecisions]

That's a tough comment to respond to - not sure if it's a real question or just a statement of opinion. First, I hope that we're bringing some level of interesting background information on the wines and the regions we cover. Second, I hope we avoid some of the wine snobbery by keeping it real and at times fun and entertaining with some self-deprecating humor. Third, I hope wine lovers enjoy our take on wines that most of us don't get to try.

[@Gr3kiZon3]

​@@OurPourDecisions thank you for your reply, I didn't think I'll even get one. This might "look" different for me since I'm european + lived in areas like Champagne or Dijon yet as WSET certified I don't find any of these tips anyhow educational - just people showing (off) really overpriced wines. Drinking a 100+ dollars bottle requires a bit more than "red fruits and oak". Unless - again - it's only about showcasing the price tags. Unfortunatelly I do not find any other value in your videos aside from how much more expensive it is in US. Salut!

[@JesusGarcia-dn5ek]

Cava! Cava! Try cava $ 50.00 it tastes better.