Five bottles to buy for Hogmanay

HOGMANAY is one of the few nights of the year when we can dress up, party and pop the cork on a bottle of champagne that’s so drinkable, chances are it may be long gone before the fireworks fade over Edinburgh Castle at midnight.

With this in mind, you can always save the fun fizz for the party poppers, hats and blowers – and get the ball rolling with the bubbles you’d really like to be seen with and suit your style and taste before the final countdown.

Braved the sales and thirsty for something sparkly but not pricey? Try

Champagne Pierre Darcys Brut (£10, down from £18, until January 1, Asda), which opens with lifted aromas of lemon and apple and an enlivened freshness and crispness.

It’s worth picking up a few bottles of Wm Morrison Champagne Brut NV (£15 from £19, until January 1, Morrisons) if you’re planning to pop the corks on New Year’s Day as well. Outstanding value while discounted, it shows florals and a toasty richness followed by lemon accents on the finish.

An IWC gold medal winner, Waitrose Brut Special Reserve Vintage Champagne 2005 (£19.99, down from £24.99 until January 3) will gently tease your taste buds with its rich and toasty flavours that are powered by pinot noir, yet there’s a delightful freshness on the finish to ensure it’s pitch perfect.

If you have a nose for the finer things in life, Champagne De St Gall Grand Cru 2009 (£35, Marks & Spencer) is made from 100 per cent chardonnay (a blanc de blancs) and displays a floral freshness intertwined with a creamy, yeasty richness. A perfect match with smoked salmon canapes.

With Olympic medal winner Usain Bolt as its new CEO (chief entertainment officer) GH Mumm is breathing new life into the Cordon Rouge brand with the release of Champagne Mumm Grand

Cordon (£39, sohowine.co.uk). Dressed with a ribbon that’s indented in the glass, the bubbles impress with their mouth-filling strength, toasty, peachy fruit and long finish.