Champagne Taittinger Brut Reserve

Producer Note

Tattinger remains one of the few Champagne Houses to remain owned and actively managed by the family named on the label. Its origins date back to 1734 when the original house was founded by Jacques Fourneaux. The Taittinger link was established in 1931 when Pierre Taittinger, the founder of today's company acquired the House. Pierre had spent much time in the Champagne region when serving in the 1st World War as a young cavalry officer. Stationed at the Château de la Marquetterie, he fell in love with this remarkable property and its vineyards and eventually purchased the company. Today, the Reims based House is headed up by Pierre's grandson, Pierre-Emmanual Taittinger and his son, Clovis and daughter Vitalie both of whom are actively involved in the day to day running of this thriving family Champagne House. The hallmark of the Taittinger Champagnes is the high percentage of Chardonnay used in their winemaking which can be anything from 40% in the Brut Réserve Non Vintage to 100% in the prestigious Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs. This Chardonnay dominance provides for a style of elegance, delicacy and finesse which is recognised worldwide.

Winemaking

Presses located in the vineyard for immediate pressing of the fruit after the manual harvest, the resulting must is cold fermented under temperature-controlled conditions. After resting until the end of winter, the wine is blended, and then the final cuvée undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle in Taittinger's cool cellars. The ageing on the lees is almost 4 years more than double the legal minimum of 15 months. This extra time in the cellars allows the wine to reach the peak of aromatic maturity.

Tasting Note

The colour is a pale straw yellow. The bubbles are exceptionally fine and abundant and form a delicate mousse, reminiscent of a mixture of flinty aromas, hints of fruits and brioche. The palate is lean, but has considerable depth and elegance with a long fresh finish.

Serving Suggestion

Excellent as an aperitif, with canapés, smoked salmon and oysters or with grilled and roasted white meats fish, shellfish.

Grape

Chardonnay 40%, Pinot Meunier 35%, Pinot Noir 25%