By Deborah Jackson, editor National Liquor News
Family Champagne dynasty, Taittinger, has released its latest prestigious cuvée, the 2006 Champagne Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs.
The 2006 Champagne Taittinger Comtes de Champagne is the ultimate expression of the 280-year-old Champagne house’s style and quintessence of its art.
Comtes is made only in years with an exceptional quality vintage. The 2006 release is 100 per cent Chardonnay from only Grand Cru-rated vineyards in Avize, Le Menil sur Oger, Oger, Cramant and Chouilly in Côtes des Blancs.
The release of this iconic wine represents the first vintage made under family management, following the buyback of the Champagne Taittinger brand by Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger in 2006.
“Comtes is the soul of Taittinger… it’s an extraordinary wine whose reputation was built by my ancestors. It’s divine; it’s magic; it’s a glorious wine,” Pierre-Emmanuel said.
Clovis Taittinger, managing director and the eldest child of Pierre-Emmanuel, told TheShout: “Comtes has always been a great wine, maybe the king of the Blanc de Blancs – and always will be. The new vintage 2006 has everything: finesse, purity, elegance and energy. The most special thing is that it is the very first vintage of my father’s presidency. It is a vintage full of feelings, full of emotion, full of passion.”
The 2006 Champagne Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs will be available end-November from fine wine retailers and selected on-premise outlets nationally. RRP $349.99.
Tasting Notes
Very pale yellow colour. Fine, light bubbles, rise steadily to form a delicate ring of foam. The nose initially presents a fresh, refined tangerine-like fruitiness. It then develops more mature notes of ripe fruit, raisin pastries and candied fruit. On the palate, the attack is both smooth and very lively. The mid-palate is supple, full-bodied and rich, with flavours of grapefruit. The finish is still very long and refined with a hint of spice, reminiscent of liquorice sticks. The 2006 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs offers maturity and finesse. This Champagne’s aromatic potential is just beginning to open up, suggesting a very good capacity to age.