TAITTINGER Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Vintage Champagne 2011
- SKU:
- 3438648
- UPC:
- 2310057903796
97 points “A firm fresh Comtes with a tight and composed palate… Refreshing and energetic.” – James Suckling
95 points “2011 is a year that continues to surprise. Warm and dry conditions from March into May set up an early harvest but the growing season was cool and wet dashing grower’s hopes. Despite the dreary summer however some lovely wines were made. The Comtes is voluptuous and almost dense with aromas that blend green apple and nectarine with floral notes and a hint of toast. A slightly lower dosage fresh acidity and a touch of bitterness bring balance and length to this wine. Much better than I dared hope.” – Decanter
94 points “After the tightly coiled hyper-concentrated 2008 Taittinger's 2011 Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne represents a more immediate charming rendition of this cuvée.” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Comtes de Champagne Taittinger’s beloved prestige cuvée is widely acknowledged as being one of the most elegant and intensely aromatic Champagnes on the planet. The highly respected Champagne expert Richard Juhlin writes of Taittinger: “The real star is the Comtes de Champagne an exemplary Blanc de Blancs from Cramant Avize Oger Le Mesnil Chouilly and old vines in Pierry. The Champagne is the best in its style with its soft exotic and creamy taste.” Made only in exceptional vintages using entirely the first press juice from Grand Cru Chardonnay it’s then aged for around nine years before being released from the cellar.
The 2011 vintage was an erratic one but it also seems to be surprising critics now that they taste it. Chardonnay performed well which plays into the hands of classic wines like this which don’t rely on the more temperamental Pinot Noir. However the harvest was small so there’s precious little of this to go around. Golden and glorious it shimmers with the snaking beads of fine bubbles releasing aromas of orchard fruit spring blossom floral honey freshly baked white bread mint creamy marzipan mandarin and golden raisins. On the silky palate a crisp combination of lemon sorbet sea salted butter smoke chalk toasted hazelnut ripe apple and white peach reveals itself. And the breath-taking freshness suggests a long future ahead of it for those with the patience to cellar it.
Taittinger’s vineyards date back to 1734 and were owned by Jacques Fourneaux. The château was bought by Pierre Taittinger in 1932 and the business prides itself on being one of the last remaining independent family-owned Champagne houses – still run by the name on the label. Their Comtes de Champagne is a wine on an incredible run of form that collectors and connoisseurs should be all over.
SKU No.: 3438648
Style No.: 877996
Region: Champagne
Grapes: Chardonnay
Closure: Cork
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 12.5%
Volume: 750ml
Allergens: Sulphites
97 points “A firm fresh Comtes with a tight and composed palate… Refreshing and energetic.” – James Suckling
95 points “2011 is a year that continues to surprise. Warm and dry conditions from March into May set up an early harvest but the growing season was cool and wet dashing grower’s hopes. Despite the dreary summer however some lovely wines were made. The Comtes is voluptuous and almost dense with aromas that blend green apple and nectarine with floral notes and a hint of toast. A slightly lower dosage fresh acidity and a touch of bitterness bring balance and length to this wine. Much better than I dared hope.” – Decanter
94 points “After the tightly coiled hyper-concentrated 2008 Taittinger's 2011 Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne represents a more immediate charming rendition of this cuvée.” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Comtes de Champagne Taittinger’s beloved prestige cuvée is widely acknowledged as being one of the most elegant and intensely aromatic Champagnes on the planet. The highly respected Champagne expert Richard Juhlin writes of Taittinger: “The real star is the Comtes de Champagne an exemplary Blanc de Blancs from Cramant Avize Oger Le Mesnil Chouilly and old vines in Pierry. The Champagne is the best in its style with its soft exotic and creamy taste.” Made only in exceptional vintages using entirely the first press juice from Grand Cru Chardonnay it’s then aged for around nine years before being released from the cellar.
The 2011 vintage was an erratic one but it also seems to be surprising critics now that they taste it. Chardonnay performed well which plays into the hands of classic wines like this which don’t rely on the more temperamental Pinot Noir. However the harvest was small so there’s precious little of this to go around. Golden and glorious it shimmers with the snaking beads of fine bubbles releasing aromas of orchard fruit spring blossom floral honey freshly baked white bread mint creamy marzipan mandarin and golden raisins. On the silky palate a crisp combination of lemon sorbet sea salted butter smoke chalk toasted hazelnut ripe apple and white peach reveals itself. And the breath-taking freshness suggests a long future ahead of it for those with the patience to cellar it.
Taittinger’s vineyards date back to 1734 and were owned by Jacques Fourneaux. The château was bought by Pierre Taittinger in 1932 and the business prides itself on being one of the last remaining independent family-owned Champagne houses – still run by the name on the label. Their Comtes de Champagne is a wine on an incredible run of form that collectors and connoisseurs should be all over.
SKU No.: 3438648
Style No.: 877996