It would be insane to abstain from Champagne when Taittinger is being poured. And so, dozens of wine lovers herded ourselves into The Wine Authority for a wide-ranging tasting of six Taittinger labels, including the prestigious “Comtes de Champagne.”
French wine specialist Benjamin Samacoïts-Etchegpin of Kobrand Wine & Spirits was on hand to answer questions and pour these beautiful bubbles around the room.
Wine Authority members got to place their Champagne orders for New Year’s and taste the whole lineup for the amazing cost of $10. Whoa.
I don’t have a cool story…other than, I showed up with friends, scribbled some notes, and sipped some Champagne! (All the details below.)
#1: Taittinger “La Francaise” Brut
As classic as Champagne gets. Pale gold with a fine, foamy mousse. Aromas of yellow apple, fresh apricot, citrus and toast, rounded off with peach nectar and honeyed almond.
A high proportion of Chardonnay gives an extremely crisp palate with tart apple and white flowers. Beautiful length with a touch of ginger to accompany its delicate effervescence.
A very exciting start to the tasting, and without a doubt the best value bottle of the night. 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier, aged 3-4 years on lees.
#2: Taittinger “Cuvée Prestige” Rosé
A festive, saturated medium blush color. Starts and ends toasty with an intensely fruity mid-palate. Some buttered popcorn and toasted grain on the nose. Bright and berried, with fine bubbles and vibrant flavors of strawberry, biscuit, rose petal, blood orange, and spiced citrus. Long finish with raspberry coulis, pink grapefruit, and light toast.
50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, and 20% Pinot Meunier, aged 3 years on lees. Most grapes are pressed in vineyard press houses and undergo a cool-temperature primary fermentation.
Taittinger is mostly known for their Chardonnay-focused wines–so when the house makes a rosé, the philosophy seems to be “go pink or go home.” This young-ish blend is made with 15% still red wine from Pinot Noir for extra color and fruitiness.
#3: Taittinger “Nocturne” Sec
Large-ish, lively bubbles. Aromas of apple, light toast, white flowers, dry straw, chamomile, and orange pith. Lightly syrupy in the mouth with buttercream flavors. It’s all soft green fruit on the finish: Asian pear and a little honeydew.
Intended as an after-dinner drink for Champagne lovers, “Nocturne” receives a 17g/L dosage with cane sugar. 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier, aged 4 years on lees.
#4: Taittinger “Prélude” Grands Crus
A 50-50 blend produced only from Grand Cru sites (Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs, Pinot Noir from Montagne de Reims). The grapes are pressed in press houses in the vineyards for maximum freshness.
Brut-style classic blend with white toast, Meyer lemon, apple, and white peach on the nose. A noticeably mineral palate of slate, chalk dust, and powdery flowers. Medium finish with some dried yellow pineapple. A diplomatic sweetness level (~ 9g/L) makes this an excellent choice for hosting. Aged 5 years on lees.
#5: Taittinger Cuvée Millésime (2016)
Ripe orchard fruit with a creamy mouthfeel and a hint of spice. Yellow apple, candied lemon peel, apricot, and toasted almond. Flavors of melon balls and lemon meringue enlivened with ginger. Full-bodied, with a delicious finish of candied orange rind and apricot marmalade. 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir, aged for 5 years on lees.
#6: Taittinger “Comtes de Champagne” Blanc de Blancs Brut (2014)
Big and rich aromas of buttered toast, almond, magnolia, toasted meringue, egg custard, and macadamia nuts complemented on the palate by light sweetness. Brighter in flavor than it smells, with tiny tingling bubbles. Fruit is present as brûléed apple and a refreshing citrus-y edge. A fine, creamy texture from 10+ years aging on its lees.
This Blanc de Blancs is 100% Chardonnay, with 5% of the wine aged in 1/3 new oak barrels for 4 months. The “Comtes de Champagne” shows up dressed to impress in a flaçon-shaped bottle crowned with yellow-gold foil. The gift box includes a bilingual booklet with production and vintage details.
It was a real treat to try all these elegant wines! Santa baby, you know what to do. 😉 (Pssst…#1 and #5.)
Wines tasted (prices are suggested retail):
Taittinger “La Francaise” Brut (NV) – $53
Taittinger “Cuvée Prestige” Rosé (NV) – $85
Taittinger “Nocturne” Sec (NV) – $101
Taittinger “Prélude” Grands Crus (NV) – $133
Taittinger Cuvée Millésime (2016) – $105
Taittinger “Comte de Champagne” Blanc de Blancs Brut (2014) – $244
Review disclosure: I was not compensated or provided any free products for this review. Opinions expressed on The Wine Fairy blog are entirely my own.
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