Superstore Champers Recently Aldi sent out a press briefing announcing the success of their Veuve Monsigny Brut No.3 Champagne.

Images of VIP personalities sipping it at Summer Rites Pride in the Park 2013, graced my email. Curious, I thought . . . why not? Champagne doesn't always have to come from Grand Cru houses.

Maybe they have something there? Either that or it was the only bubbly available. Up for a challenge I emailed John Price, the media relations officer for the brand, explained what I wanted to do and asked for a sample. After three emails, I finally received a response stating that Aldi is "not in the position to provide samples," and that I could "always go to your (my) local Aldi and purchase the Veuve Monsigny Brut No.3 for only £12.99."

I thought if this is going to be a fair comparison of store brand Champagnes then I might as well include the big three in Oxford- Aldi, Lidl and Asda. I dipped into my rainy day money, knowing full well my editor wasn't going to let me expense three bottles of Champagne for one column, no matter how inexpensive, and decided to blow it all on this tasting.

Please don't complain if I am reviewing coffee next week. Saturday morning I breezed by the big three picking up the Veuve Monsigny Brut No. 3 from Aldi, the Comte de Brismand Brut Reserve for £12.99 from Lidl and the Louis Bernard Premier Cru 'Extra Special' Brut for £19.75 from Asda. As I was leaving Asda, I thought £19.75 . . . really? If I am going to pay £19.75 for Champagne, I might as well spend an extra £5 and get Leroux-Mineau from Tom Ellis at firstclassproducts.biz. I told this to a friend and was instantly called a "brand snob." Ouch!

Once home I chilled them all to the appropriate temperature, got out some nibbles and called some friends over to help me decide which one was the best. The bottles were wrapped in foil, mixed up and numbered to make it a proper blind tasting. We all agreed the first one was very light in everything.

Light in colour, light in aroma and light in taste. It had decent enough bubbles . . . but no length. The second was much stronger. It had a golden colour, and intense aroma. One taster likened the flavour to fruit salad sweets while another said it tasted slightly of marzipan. The third champagne was extremely bubbly at first, then faded quickly. It was light on the nose but had good crisp flavour.

I thought it tasted a touch of pear and pineapple, but again it did not last long. We all agreed the second was our favourite. It was Asda's 'Extra Special' Brut. This had the best of everything, colour, aroma, flavour and the length wasn't half bad. It just proves you do get what you pay for.

Aldi's Veuve Monsigny Brut No.3 did make it into second place. But I am still not convinced the "VIPs" prefer it over Moet & Chandon or Veuve Clicquot. Lidl's Comte de Brismand Brut Reserve came in a pitiful last.

If that is your only option skip it. Go back up the Cowley Road, stop in at Majestic Wines Warehouse and pick up their Codorniu Seleccion Raventos for £10.

I know it's Cava, but for the price the flavour is much better.