WHICH FIZZ WILL BE OUR TOP OF THE POPS?

Wine writer JANE CLARE blind-tasted supermarket bubbly with a few of Santa’s Little Helpers. Here, she shares her thoughts and the tasters’ verdicts

Choose your champers Sainsbury’s Winemaker’s Selection Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne NV £20, but £16 from Dec 13 until Jan 1

Made purely from the chardonnay grape, so you get a good burst of apples. Aromas of ripe red apples – and baked crusty apples too, as if cooked down in a tarte tatin. Verdict: Creamy toffee notes like creme brulee

Tesco finest* Premier Cru Champagne NV £19, Tesco

This wine shone out and I was entranced by its many aromas. Butterscotch, toasted pineapple, squished ripe apples and a suggestion of custard creams are all present. A special festive fizz; perhaps one to greet Christmas Day guests. Verdict: Lovely aroma, butter, vanilla

Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut NV Champagne £21.99, Waitrose

Light and refined, with a subtle floral note, red apples, vanilla and persistent bubbles. The best value sparkling wine under £25 in the International Wine Challenge awards. Verdict: Light, very dry, like it

Les Pionniers NV Co-op, £16.99

Les Pionniers is the Co-op’s own-brand champagne, made for them by top champagne producer Piper Heidsieck. It has aromas of pears and apples and a creamy nuttiness with a lively refreshing acidity. It makes a regular appearance in my household! Verdict: Appley, very nice

Extra Special Louis Bernard Champagne Premier Cru NV £19, Adsa

The wine is giddy in the glass with exuberant bubbles; then pretty floral aromas are the first to reach you followed by subtle notes of vanilla, brioche, pears and red apples. Very tasty. Verdict: A light champagne

Louis Vertay Brut NV Marks & Spencer, £17 down from £34 until Jan 1

At full price, this is the most expensive of the champagnes in the blind tasting, though I’d be disappointed if I paid top dollar. Its fruity notes edged towards the tropical, as I sensed papaya and a dryer note of gooseberry. A light champagne, soft and subtle. Verdict: Forgettable but not unlikeable

Champagne Comte De Senneval Lidl, £10.99

Hello world, say the bubbles, and there’s a steady stream of them once you pop the cork. On the nose it is pretty understated but there is baked apples and pears and a touch of biscuit. Verdict: Very bubbly, fun fizz

Marquis de Belrive Champagne Brut Reserve £16, Spar

Delicious. One of Santa’s Little Helpers kept going back for a bit more. It’s complex, with vanilla, toasty brioche and baked apples. There were sweet undertones with caramel and (bear with me) Twiglets. Verdict: A favourite

Champagne Veuve Monsigny Aldi, £10.99

Often topping consumer taste tests. It’s crisp, with citrus notes upfront, red apples, vanilla, and apple crumble. It’s a good value fizz for celebrations. Verdict: Fruity and plenty of fizz

Morrisons The Best Brut Champagne Morrisons, £17, down from £19 until January 2

Highly drinkable, good for people who don’t want champers to be a tastebud challenge. Stewed apples and lemony citrus were my takeaway. Verdict: Tastes like dried apple chips