x
  • Country ranking ?

    417
  • Producer ranking ?

    8
  • Decanting time

    15min
  • When to drink

    now to 2030
  • Food Pairing

    Shellfish with guacamole

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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 gla...

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Wine Information

Consistently great but from time to time simply divine, Taittinger Comtes de Champagne has consecutively been an apt contender for the title of the best champagne on the market. All recent vintages have been successful; the intense 1996 being one of the finest of the vintage, the 1998 possessing classic Comtes elegance and the 1999 demonstrating a more softer side of Comtes. But in 2000 Taittinger and its reputed cellar master Loïc Dupont hit ...

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Vintage 1996

Up to this point 1996 has been considered a fantastic vintage which produced classic wines; the best since 1990. A long, dry summer produced grapes of record ripeness with record acidity. Some, including myself, question how the 1996s are aging. The wines are generally characterized by a distinctive rather lemony acidity and very good attack, but some wines now seem terribly austere, while others already seem dangerously short of fruit. None o...

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

28 tasting notes

Tasting note

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Written Notes

Pristine, great balance. This is one of the very finest of all Comtes and really coming into its own now. Great complexity. Notes of lemon cheesecake. Seductively supple texture, fine acidity and there is a hint of a smoky lemon note on the very long finish. 99.

  • 99p
Of course, far too young, and as surely far too tempting to drink right now because the wine is already mighty tasty. More width than length so far. More nuttiness and breadiness than exoticism in the current state. Is sure to be another classic. Starting to get there as early as autumn 2007. Clear as a bell and stunningly beautiful! 2011 perhaps the most drinkable and best of all 96's. Close to full maturity with lot of roasted and toffee richness.
  • 96p

You have to go back to 1928 to find such a balance of ripeness with high acidity: 10 g/l acidity and 10 degrees of potential alcohol at harvest. First pressings only. 5% matured in new French oak. 100% malolactic, 10 years on lees. Amazingly fine, complex, bold nose showing savoury, toasty notes and hints of wax and herbs. The palate is powerful with high acidity and firm, savoury, toasty characters, as well as fresh citrus and pear fruit. There’s a boldly savoury character here. Waxy, herby, a little reductive and showing a hint of coffee. Remarkable wine with great potential. 96/100

  • 96p

This is a beautiful blend of toasty aromas, coffee beans and flowers. The taste showcases perfectly the creaminess of the Chardonnay, while the superb acid structure of a truly great vintage supports the wine perfectly. Lingers delightfully long, has a rich and light nature of excellence.

  • 96p
På pappret borde detta vara ett vin för vinkällaren. Men som jag uttryckt det många gånger förut, skönt åldrande i champagne bygger inte enbart på syra utan måste även ha rikedom och substans för att detta skall lyckas. Doften drar mot en riktigt bra Chablis Grand Cru från någon av de stora kanonerna. I smakpektrat finner jag idag mineral och omisskännlig klass. Ljuvlig perfektion senast!
  • 97p
A nose that opens up with lots of toasty and roasted aromas, minerals and just hints of luxurious tropical fruits, citrus and honey. Could this be anything else than Comtes de Champagne? Still young and very tight palate with tropical fruit, citrus, green and yellow apples, roasted brioche, fine grip and long but slightly hollow and tart, bitter finish. Exceptional wine but the least inspiring bottle of Comtes de Champagne 1996 I’ve had. Today only 93 points but I’ve scored this higher in the past. Tasted 8 times. Drink 2014-2026 93p
  • 93p
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Information

Origin

Reims, Champagne

Vintage Quality

Outstanding

Value For Money

Good

Investment potential

No Potential

Fake factory

None

Drinking temperature

6

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Collection

Comtes de Champagne Rosé

Comtes de Champagne Rosé Vinothèque

Comtes de Champagne Vinothèque

Cuvée Prestige

Demi-Sec

Future version of Comtes de Champagne

Les Folies de la Marquetterie

Nocturne

Nocturne Rosé

Prelude

Vintage

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