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  • Country ranking ?

    637
  • Producer ranking ?

    16
  • Decanting time

    15min
  • When to drink

    now to 2035
  • Food Pairing

    Lobster

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The Story

Taittinger Comtes de Champagne is the finest expression of the world famous wine from one of the greatest Champagne Houses. First produced in 1952, Comtes is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes from 5 Grand Cru sites in the Côte des Blancs. Showing a pristine pale yellow colour with very light, abundant bubbles which rise uniformly to form a fine mousse. The evocative bouquet opens with notes of pears and fresh cute white flowers. Left in the glass for a time, the nose develops a richness and density of pure character. Once on the palate, Comtes is lively, direct and precise with flavours of candied lemon zest and fresh pineapple. The balance is something to behold. This Champagne's marriage of finesse and aromatic intensity is a promise of further potential, but already offers very pleasurable drinking.

The blend. Produced in the cellars of the former Saint-Nicaise abbey (13th century) in Reims, Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs receives all the lavish care and attention it needs to reach its peak. Every bottle of Comtes de Champagne strictly adheres to all of the following to make it such a rare luxury and the connoisseurs choice :

The Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs is composed exclusively of Chardonnay grown in the five villages of the Côte des Blancs, which are classified as Grands Crus: Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger.

• It is only produced when the harvest is of exceptional quality worthy of a vintage year.

• Only the wine from the first press – the Cuvée – is used: a sure guarantee of finesse.

• 5% of the wines used to make it have been aged for 4 months in new oak barrels (a third of which are renewed every year), enhancing the intrinsic qualities and complexities of the final blend.

• Only after slow and patient ageing for almost 10 years in the Saint-Nicaise chalk pits (Crayères) in 18 metres underground does this cuvée of exceptional quality come out into the light. 

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Wine Information

The 2011 vintage was very different, marked by early ripening and a spring drought. This forced the root network to delve deep in the earth in search of the water it needed for proper growth and resulted in a voluptuous Comtes de Champagne, etched with truth.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Ageing: 9 years on the lees
Disgorged: April 2021
Dosage: 9 g/l
Drink: Now to 2030+

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Vintage 2011

Champagne Vintage 2011  / Pinot noir especially stood out this year, while pinot meunier was a ected partly by attacks. The winter came unusually early, in November of the previous year, but a mild late spring still led to a owering in May. The blending wines still have a fairly thin structure and a disturbing tone of bubblegum. Actually, this was one of the few autumns I have been present at harvest. I went around and made unannounced visits here and there. The strongest impression and question mark was actually the huge amount of invasive ladybugs that were caught in the presses and left a nasty, urine-saturated stabbing scent in the press houses. Will this leave an impression? I fail to see it disappear given how strong it was. Apart from that, I will never forget it was 86°F and the autumn sun radiant, when we celebrated with a magnum and reworks into the wee hours in Moulin de Verzenay. 

by Richard Juhlin

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Tasting note

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Written Notes

Clovis Taittinger was kind enough to let me taste 2011 Comtes for the upcoming new book six months before release. A daring decision as several of my fellow tasters were really disappointed with their favorite champange. Personally, I already enjoyed it to the fullest most aware of the date of disgorgement and that extra time in the cellar will open up a greater depth. Already now everything is in the right place and we have another great Comtes to long for.

  • 92p

“A small-sized harvest from a difficult year with Chardonnay as the only performer. Bright, shiny lemon-green colour. On the charmingly open nose, Comtes's hallmark toasty deliciousness envelops plentiful orchard and stone fruit. With time in the glass, the glorious gunpowdery whiff is enhanced, but a mild vegetal note surfaces alongside it. The palate is joyously playful, with lovely silkiness carrying the lightweight, fresh wine. Long, juicy finish. A great effort for 2011. Dosage 8g/l”

  • 94p

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. Bursting from the glass with aromas of orchard and stone fruit mingled with notions of pastry cream, blanched almonds and mandarin, it's medium to full-bodied, pillowy and fleshy, with a soft and enveloping profile, lively acids and a pretty pinpoint mousse. Readers might think of the 2011 as a somewhat less reductive and less intense stylistic sibling of the 2006, and as it takes on more toasty complexity with bottle age, it will make for immensely seductive drinking.

  • 94p

Bright, green yellow colour. Very elegant, mineral nose with seashells, touch of herbs, fresh apples, and flint. Dry and crisp palate is discreet and firm. Refined creamy mousse. Gentle peppermint flavours with lemony bite in long and lingering finish. Elegant yet reserved. JL 94+p (Oct 2021)

  • 94p

Thi Champagne, from an average vintage in the region, is just approaching maturity still showing minerality from the high amount of Chardonnay in the blend. Nutty flavors are creeping in, keeping the great texture adding complexity. Drink this very fine wine now although it will also age further.

  • 94p
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Information

Origin

Reims, Champagne

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Collection

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Cuvée Prestige

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Prelude

Vintage

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