Taittinger’s “La Française” is one of the best widely available Champagnes in the $50-$60 price range. It’s like a sampler platter of all the classic Champagne flavors, and it hits an ideal spot between richness and freshness.
It’s versatile, too. Not too soft, not too acidic. Good brand-name recognition for impressing your friends, but not moronically priced. If someone hands me the wine list–and there’s a mix of different dishes and palates to work with–this is often the bottle that I’m picking for the table.
I first tried “La Française” at a tasting presented by a Taittinger rep a few months ago. (The current release is heavily based on the scarce 2021 vintage.) It held up favorably alongside everything Taittinger–except perhaps their ultra-spendy “Comtes de Champagne.” Most recently, I ordered a bottle at Lavendou, a Dallas bistro with an extensive and well-priced French wine list.
Tasting “La Française” Champagne
In the glass, it’s a medium gold color with a frosty-gray cast. A frothy ring of bubbles carries aromas of pear, quince, and yellow melon alongside brioche and almond crème.
Some of its qualities are subdued on the nose but burst forward on the tongue, like a dinner guest who seems shy but has just been waiting for the right moment to speak. Crisp green apple, lemon peel, and vanilla cake hit all at once, mellowing out into a fat, honey-almond mid-palate. Crispness comes from a high-ish percentage of Chardonnay (40%), bringing a light citrus-ginger bite to the finish.
“La Française” is aged on its lees for 3-4 years–far longer than the minimum legal cellar-aging requirement of 15 months. Ample Brut dosage (9 g/L) complements its sweet-smelling fruit and pastry notes.
This is not a wine of expressive extremes–and as such, it may not wow the rock-lickers, acid fiends, or bread-heads of the Champagne world. But it still impresses with its consistently high quality and impeccable balance.
Food pairing
Wine Spectator has described “La Française” as an “aperitif-style Champagne”–and it’s very good before the meal, certainly. But it also possesses the Champagne superpower of being able to stay on the table throughout every course.
This bottle is refreshing with seafood, full-bodied enough to serve with meaty mains, and its light sweetness can balance hard-to-match vegetable dishes like asparagus, eggplant, or mushrooms. I paired it with a few of Lavendou’s seasonal starters: Seared soft-shell crab, smoky split-pea soup, and house-cured salmon with capers.
Bottle: Taittinger “La Française” Brut Champagne (NV)
Variety: Chardonnay (40%), Pinot Noir (35%), Pinot Meunier (25%)
ABV: 12.5%
Suggested retail: $52.99
My rating: 9.2 (out of 10)
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.
Leave a Comment