The Taittinger Comtes Thread

[Warren Taranow]

IMHO, Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes deserves its own thread. I wish I could say I'm an expert, but I'm merely a smitten admirer who discovered the wine with the 2004 vintage. I can't speak to older vintages, but hope to see this thread backfilled by others. The 2004 and 2005 hooked me, then the 2006 blew me away.

Here are some of the essentials of this tête de cuvée:

First made in 1952

The bottle is a reproduction of an 18th century bottle design

Grand Cru Chardonnay mostly from Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger, and some Chouilly and Cramant; only first run juice.

Since the late '80s, about 5% is aged in oak barrels for a few months

Undergoes malolactic fermentation

Dosage is usually 9g/l

Aged in Reims for a minimum of eight years

Production is less than 25,000 cases each vintage


The current release is 2006, which hit the market in late 2015. I've read a lot of posts of people passing on the '06 to wait for the '08, which I think is a mistake. The next release will be the 2007, possibly late this year. The will be little of the 2007 released, due to an early harvest in a hot vintage.

The earliest we'll see the 2008 is late 2019. After that, we'll have to wait for the 2012, as there will be no Comte produced from the 2009, 2010, or 2011 vintages.

My latest TN on the 2006: Gorgeous and complex nose and palate; Lemon cream, flowers and orchard fruit, but I think it's the texture and mouthfeel that bring me back so often. Balanced, dense, yet very lithe.

Cheers!

Warren

[Nathan Smyth]

Some very knowledgeable people were weighing in on this recent thread:

2 different batches of 06` Taittinger Comtes de Champagne?
January 6th 2018
https://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/vi ... 1&t=147530

[Michael S. Monie]

Count me as a fan of the 2006. Interesting that they would pass on 2009. Lots of tete de cuvées being made with 2009.

[PhilippeCamps]

Count me in the big fans of Comte de Champagne... As my 1st vintage was the 1988 we drank for my wedding dinner... and I'm I'm still married

1995 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne - France, Champagne (30-01-17)
Nose of Mokka, biscuit, apricot, very brioche and butter… taste of delicious brioche and butter, very nice balance, very nice lenght !! (95 pts.)

2006 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne - France, Champagne (30-01-17)
Nose of white flowers, honey, hint of brioche, hint of smoke, hazelnut… taste of grilled hazelnut, granny smith, nice acidity (93 pts.)

2006 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne - France, Champagne (20-10-15)
This is all finesse and elegance, beautiful nose of brioche and toast, roasted nuts... Lenght of 30 sec, this will evolve like a nice Meursault, still too young, will be at it's peak in 10 years from now (95 pts.)

1990 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne - France, Champagne (29-07-10)
Nos of yellow apple, biscuits, quite evolved a hint maderised... in the month, yellow apples, apricot, lacking a bit of freshness (91 pts.)

1995 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne - France, Champagne (23-04-10)
Very expressive nose of roasted nuts, ripe yellow apple, smoky, and a hint of acacia flower... in the mounth, yellow ripe apple with crisp acidity, very good lenght, great champagne!! (95 pts.)

[Neal.Mollen]

I have, but have not opened, the 2006. I have loved the 95, 96 and 04, and have very much enjoyed the 99 as well. I don't drink it often enough to be an aficionado.

[Jay Miller]

I've been a fan ever since Josh Leader brought a 1979 to a dinner at Triomphe about 12? years ago. After realizing that I couldn't afford to buy aged Comtes at auction I bought some 1995 and 1996 from Premier Cru. I then learned a lesson about how vintages that don't necessarily show well on release can still age beautifully. I loved the 1999 and but skipped the 1998 and 2000 which were a bit disappointing on release but are really good now.

Of the 2002, 2004 and 2006 trilogy my favorite is probably the 2004 for its lean minerality though I love all of them and haven't encountered any of the disappointing 2006 bottles that others have seen. I only had the 2005 once and thought it a very strong offering for the vintage.

The great thing is that while the quality is high the production is also very large so the wine remains widely available and hasn't reached the high pricing of some other Tete de Cuvees.

If you're just starting out then I urge you to cellar some bottles as they reward it greatly. The 1995 is amazing now and a 1996 opened about a year and a half ago was beautiful but just starting to come into its own. The nose of an aged Comtes is a thing of beauty.

[k s h i n]

I am hoping that the 06 will develop like the 96 or 02. The recent showing of the 96 is very close, if not equal, to the 96 Salon in quality, of course for my palate, The 06 Rose is excellent as well. The older mags show even better which is not surprising.

[dbailey]

Good to hear about the 06 rose as I just bought some!

[Justin S]

If you're just starting out then I urge you to cellar some bottles as they reward it greatly. The 1995 is amazing now and a 1996 opened about a year and a half ago was beautiful but just starting to come into its own. The nose of an aged Comtes is a thing of beauty.

As a novice to aged champagne, it would be helpful to understand how the wine changes (or subjectively improves) as it ages. I tasted the 2006 a few months ago and highly enjoyed its concentrated flavor, though stylistically I tend to prefer more freshness. Is it fair to say the wine's fruit will lean out, the acidity may smooth out, and the flavors more oxidized?

[k s h i n]

If you're just starting out then I urge you to cellar some bottles as they reward it greatly. The 1995 is amazing now and a 1996 opened about a year and a half ago was beautiful but just starting to come into its own. The nose of an aged Comtes is a thing of beauty.

As a novice to aged champagne, it would be helpful to understand how the wine changes (or subjectively improves) as it ages. I tasted the 2006 a few months ago and highly enjoyed its concentrated flavor, though stylistically I tend to prefer more freshness. Is it fair to say the wine's fruit will lean out, the acidity may smooth out, and the flavors more oxidized?

I am no Jay but the fruit will become warmer, rounder and more decadent. In Salon and CDC, the expression is similar to Côte de Beaune whites but develop slower. IMO, the great champagnes should retain freshness at least for three or four decades if ideally kept. However, they will become rounder and will not be as precise/focused. Although I find really old champagnes interesting, I don't like too much oxidative expression.

• 1996 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne - France, Champagne (12/8/2016)
  Holiday Dinner - Champ, Burg, Bordeaux, Rhone and etc. (The Grill Room at Rosewood DC): From the same source as the last magnum, en magnum. Perfect youthful nose displaying sweetest yellow fruit, candied lemon peel, lemon curd, apple strudel, oyster jus, smoked oyster, wild flowers and sweet spices. Incredibly energetic and perfectly balanced palate, beautifully layered, decadent youthful lemon curd and cooked apple driven palate impression, bright acidity and strong mineral presence and a seamless vibrant finish that resonates. Perhaps attributed to the magnum format, it has gained the exquisite complexity without compromising its youthful energy and vibrancy. It is playful and delicious yet extremely complex and serious. Now the rating, I hesitate to give a perfect rating to a Comtes de Champagne but this is one of the best Champagnes of my life. I am not just about to say that this is better than the 96 Salon but this is drinking perfect! Everyone revisits a few times throughout the dinner until the end. (100 pts.)
• 1996 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne - France, Champagne (9/30/2016)
  Annual Chicago winos visit - Pearl Clutcher, coche, drc, rousseau, D'Yquem and etc. (The Grill Room at Rosewood DC): The 96 CdC is a great wine and en magnum, it flirts with perfection. Incredibly fresh yet complex nose displaying sweet chardonnay fruit, lemon candy, apple, white flowers, a hint of smoke, smoke oyster, oyster shell and brioche, Excellent concentration, incredibly fresh, energetic and detailed palate, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and beautiful seamless finish that ends with mineral and smoke. This is incredibly delicious yet profoundly serious. A bit like the 96 Salon but more airy and believe it or not, fresher in magnum! More than any other wine, I prefer Champagne in magnum format as it is noticeably fresher yet more complex. Absolutely stunning! (99 pts.)
• 1996 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne - France, Champagne (2/18/2016)
  Mostly FGs Bordeaux dinner - 82 & 86 Mouton, 00 Pavie, 86 & 95 Lafite, 96 Margaux and 95 Latour (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): Another stunning showing. Great concentration, freshness, structure and balance. Very youthful yet complex nose displaying citrus and apple, really floral, honey and yeast. Excellent concentration, beautifully layered, bright acidity and lovely long finish. This can still improve for another decade or two. I highly recommend. (97 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

[Jay Miller]

If you're just starting out then I urge you to cellar some bottles as they reward it greatly. The 1995 is amazing now and a 1996 opened about a year and a half ago was beautiful but just starting to come into its own. The nose of an aged Comtes is a thing of beauty.

As a novice to aged champagne, it would be helpful to understand how the wine changes (or subjectively improves) as it ages. I tasted the 2006 a few months ago and highly enjoyed its concentrated flavor, though stylistically I tend to prefer more freshness. Is it fair to say the wine's fruit will lean out, the acidity may smooth out, and the flavors more oxidized?

I am no Jay but the fruit will become warmer, rounder and more decadent. In Salon and CDC, the expression is similar to Côte de Beaune whites but develop slower. IMO, the great champagnes should retain freshness at least for three or four decades if ideally kept. However, they will become rounder and will not be as precise/focused. Although I find really old champagnes interesting, I don't go crazy if showing too much oxidative expression.

But you probably have more experience than I do . I was trying to think of how to describe it and I concur with what you say. The words I was leaning towards were rounder and richer but I like the way you put it. Though I want to emphasize that for me one of the greatest payoffs is what happens with the nose which can achive a depth and grandeur that is captivating.

Age is so vintage dependent that I hesitate to make a recommendation. I don't know if the 1995 Comptes ever shut down but the 1996 certainly did and is just coming around. 2000 is great now at age 18 but was dull on release. 1999 drank well all along. My goal (unlikely to be met) is to save the rest of my 2006s for 2026 or so.

[alan weinberg]

love the 90 and 96. Only one data point w 06 but not a fan. Will keep 6 for the future but not buying more. Will wait for 08.

[RyanC]

For my money, one of the best values in fine wine.

[Howard Cooper]

Last year, I had a wonderful 1990 https://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/vi ... n#p2181882 and then had a small amount of the 2006 https://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/vi ... r#p2198033 Seemed to me that the 2006 has a bright future.

[dcornutt]

I love this stuff. The value is here. If you enjoy Chardonnay based Champagne, this is a must have to me. Count me in as a 2006 lover.

[Jayson Cohen]

I agree with most of what’s said above about CdC as it ages, but I do think one of the great hallmarks of CdC is it retains freshness and precision/delineation even as it benefits from time in the cellar. Plus, I don’t generally find oxidative notes in CdC with age, and I also am not a big fan of the oxidative style.

My favorite vintages since 1985 (earlier tastes being few and far between) are 1995, 1996, 2002, and 2004. In a 1996 horizontal with about 12 or 13 Champagnes in 2016, the CdC was just a hair below Salon in (I think) everyone’s estimation of “best”, although we were unfortunately missing a couple possible challengers that day due to a last minute cancellation (Churchill and Krug). And I personally think the 1995 is drinking even better than 1996 right now although who knows if that will last. Jay opened 2002 recently and that may be the sweet spot right now in terms of QPR if you hunt for a good price.

[R@y.Tupp@+sch]

My favorite vintages since 1985 (earlier tastes being few and far between) are 1995, 1996, 2002, and 2004. In a 1996 horizontal with about 12 or 13 Champagnes in 2016, the CdC was just a hair below Salon in (I think) everyone’s estimation of “best”, although we were unfortunately missing a couple possible challengers that day due to a last minute cancellation (Churchill and Krug). And I personally think the 1995 is drinking even better than 1996 right now although who knows if that will last. Jay opened 2002 recently and that may be the sweet spot right now in terms of QPR if you hunt for a good price.

I agree with you that the '95 is drinking better than the '96, but the gap isn't as large as it once was. While the '96 has progressed very well, I do still think there is a large gap between it and the very best of the '96's (CdM, better examples of Salon, Cristal and Krug).
'99 CdC is my favorite Champagne from the vintage and is probably the Champagne I've consumed most often over the past couple of years.

[alan weinberg]

My favorite vintages since 1985 (earlier tastes being few and far between) are 1995, 1996, 2002, and 2004. In a 1996 horizontal with about 12 or 13 Champagnes in 2016, the CdC was just a hair below Salon in (I think) everyone’s estimation of “best”, although we were unfortunately missing a couple possible challengers that day due to a last minute cancellation (Churchill and Krug). And I personally think the 1995 is drinking even better than 1996 right now although who knows if that will last. Jay opened 2002 recently and that may be the sweet spot right now in terms of QPR if you hunt for a good price.

I agree with you that the '95 is drinking better than the '96, but the gap isn't as large as it once was. While the '96 has progressed very well, I do still think there is a large gap between it and the very best of the '96's (CdM, better examples of Salon, Cristal and Krug).
'99 CdC is my favorite Champagne from the vintage and is probably the Champagne I've consumed most often over the past couple of years.

what’s your 06 opinion?

[Jayson Cohen]

My favorite vintages since 1985 (earlier tastes being few and far between) are 1995, 1996, 2002, and 2004. In a 1996 horizontal with about 12 or 13 Champagnes in 2016, the CdC was just a hair below Salon in (I think) everyone’s estimation of “best”, although we were unfortunately missing a couple possible challengers that day due to a last minute cancellation (Churchill and Krug). And I personally think the 1995 is drinking even better than 1996 right now although who knows if that will last. Jay opened 2002 recently and that may be the sweet spot right now in terms of QPR if you hunt for a good price.

I agree with you that the '95 is drinking better than the '96, but the gap isn't as large as it once was. While the '96 has progressed very well, I do still think there is a large gap between it and the very best of the '96's (CdM, better examples of Salon, Cristal and Krug).
'99 CdC is my favorite Champagne from the vintage and is probably the Champagne I've consumed most often over the past couple of years.

If you force me to choose, ‘96 Salon is a step up and has an extra gear. I love it. The bottle of Salon that day in 2016 was particularly fresh and outstanding. I haven’t tried ‘96 Krug or Cristal side by side with ‘96 CdC. (Normally I’d say that Krug is a very different beast to compare to Taittinger CdC, but I’ve found ‘96 Krug particularly elegant the couple times I’ve had it.) I’ve never had the ‘96 Clos de Mesnil.

[Blake Brown]

I`ve posted many TNs on the 06` which I love and a few other TNs on many other vintages and I can easily say I`m a big fan of this grande marque and have been ever since a magnum of 81` knocked my socks off. To this day, the 81` was maybe as good as any other releases although 85`, 90`, 95` and 96` were stars among stars. The 95` for many years out shown the 96` and many other 96`s such as Salon, Dom, Krug, Cristal and Pol Roger`s SWC and is still is rocking.

As Nathan posted early on in this thread, there`s some good discussion in a recent thread he provided the link for.

[R@y.Tupp@+sch]

My favorite vintages since 1985 (earlier tastes being few and far between) are 1995, 1996, 2002, and 2004. In a 1996 horizontal with about 12 or 13 Champagnes in 2016, the CdC was just a hair below Salon in (I think) everyone’s estimation of “best”, although we were unfortunately missing a couple possible challengers that day due to a last minute cancellation (Churchill and Krug). And I personally think the 1995 is drinking even better than 1996 right now although who knows if that will last. Jay opened 2002 recently and that may be the sweet spot right now in terms of QPR if you hunt for a good price.

I agree with you that the '95 is drinking better than the '96, but the gap isn't as large as it once was. While the '96 has progressed very well, I do still think there is a large gap between it and the very best of the '96's (CdM, better examples of Salon, Cristal and Krug).
'99 CdC is my favorite Champagne from the vintage and is probably the Champagne I've consumed most often over the past couple of years.

what’s your 06 opinion?

Alan,

Assuming you are asking my opinion, I think it's good/very good but have only had a few bottles from the same case, so I'm sure I have only tasted one disgorgement. I'm assuming it was the initial one based on the fact I bought it in Europe upon its release. I think it is a vintage to consume on the earlier side and not to cellar for many decades.

[B. Buzzini]

I've had 4 similar bottles of this...

• 2006 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne - France, Champagne (12/15/2016)
  Mmmmmm this is tasty! Like taking a razor blade through a pillow...the citrus is SO fresh and alive, tingles the palate with tiny popping bubbles...I always wanted to invent the Champagne Pop Rocks candy!...lemon, ginger, bosc pear.....then this amazing pillow softness(like a reddi whip hit) comforts with a coating of creme....vanilla, lite caramel, bread dough...and all the great terroir likes of burgundy brings to the chard grape with the savory minerality, chalky limestone dust....floral pretties as well. Youthful fo sho right now, but the texture is where it's at! Flavors are tasty, but age will bring out the OMG's......you definitely need a LOT of these in the cellar! +pts (96 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker


And 1 bottle of this...

• 2006 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne - France, Champagne (10/25/2017)
  This bottle was from a different case purchase and NOT at all like the glorious 4 bottles I've had previous. Acidic and angular, no pillow softness and finesse like the first 4? Second day not any better.

Posted from CellarTracker

I'm scared to open another bottle of the latter as I have 11 bottles left from that case!

[rick m]

i also had been fortunate to have '06 dozen of time last year along with few rose and they have been very consistent scoring 94-96 pts. i need to keep my hands off them for while to see how it will age...

[R@y.Tupp@+sch]

Older vintages of CdC have been some of the greatest Champagnes I've consumed. Specifically the '59, '61, '62, '66, '71 and '76 have been at or near the very top of the Champagne hierarchy in those vintages.

[Yao C]

This thread inspired me to buy 1995 CdC at auction. Would you all go older & if so how much older? I have no idea how long lived it tends to be

[craig v]

For me, best value in Tete Cuvee and my all round favorite glass of champagne. Blown away by the '96 near release and have been buying regularly ever since. I don't buy much champagne priced between $40 & $90. I mostly buy stuff around $30-$35 and when I want a noticeable jump, head turning experience Comte is my 1st choice and its a tremendous value even at $110-$125/btl. Another super great thing about Comte is it drinks fantastic almost immediately while showing perfect balance & very complex. I prefer my champagnes closer to release in general anyhow.

[Jay Miller]

This thread inspired me to buy 1995 CdC at auction. Would you all go older & if so how much older? I have no idea how long lived it tends to be

The 1995 is amazing right now. I wouldn't worry about holding it but unlike the 1996 it doesn't need it.

It's a little frightening to realize that the 1995 is about as old now as that 1979 was back when I tried it and got hooked on Comtes.

[Don Brazelton]

Also had the ‘95 on New Years Eve. It was the wine of the night. Beautiful and complex.

[Yao C]

Does anyone know if the wine that Taittinger puts into their Collection series (for example) is the same or different from what goes into CdC? I've had the 1981 Arman and the 1990 Corneille and the latter was really excellent

[Russell Faulkner]

Not Comtes. The same as the regular Vintage (according to Juhlan and others)

[Brad Baker]

To build on what Russell said above - except for the first release in 1978, it is the same wine as the regular vintage except with a little more lees aging as it is normally disgorged a couple years after the last batch of the regular vintage release.

[Russell Faulkner]

Thanks Brad!

[R Nanda]

Great thread.

We did an 8-vintage vertical of CdC (along with an 8-vintage vertical of Krug side-by-side) back a few weeks ago. To my surprise, I preferred the CdC vertical over the Krug vertical ... and save the '02 Krug, I preferred CdC in each vintage where we had both. 95 and 96 CdC were my wines of the night (followed by 02 and 96 Krug).

[R. Frankel]

While I find young CDC to be powerful, I really prefer them with moderate age. Right now the ‘90 and ‘96 are in prime drinking windows, with the 1990 showing more age and development, though in no way tired (at least the small handful of bottles I’ve had). So that means I’m sitting on my 2002 and 2006s for at least another few years, probably more. In the meantime I’ll try to source some 1995, 1999, and find some 2004 and 2005 if I can.

[Mich@el Ch@ng]

Weird that they’d make 05 but not 09...

[Shannon Perdue]

The 95 and 96 are a dynamic duo with the 95 being a favorite wine of all time for me. Love it!

[AAgrawal]

The current release is 2006, which hit the market in late 2015. I've read a lot of posts of people passing on the '06 to wait for the '08, which I think is a mistake. The next release will be the 2007, possibly late this year. The will be little of the 2007 released, due to an early harvest in a hot vintage.

The earliest we'll see the 2008 is late 2019. After that, we'll have to wait for the 2012, as there will be no Comte produced from the 2009, 2010, or 2011 vintages.

I saw my first offer on the 2007 at $120, about the same as what the '06 was running. Has anyone tried it? There's only 1 CT note.

[scamhi]

Good to hear about the 06 rose as I just bought some!

I bought some too.

[Mike Hawkins]

I tried the 07 a few years ago with Pierre Emmanuel. Good for the vintage, but qualitatively on par with the 2005. That said, please buy lot of 2007, as it will hasten the release of the 2008 ! (An unbelievably great wine).

[D@vid R0sewater]

Had an ‘89 CDC BdB a few weeks ago and it was great - round and nutty but plenty of freshness. Easily the best QPR among tet de cuvées.

[R@y.Tupp@+sch]

Did a 16 bottle - including a couple of mags - vertical a couple of nights ago. '71 CdC was my favorite with great mature Champagne aromas and flavors with still enough yellow fruit to make it Staggering Plus. The '81 was one of the better examples of the vintage that I've had, and there was a stylistic consistency among '95, '96, '98, '99, '02, '04 and '06. I was surprised how well the '98 showed. '96 CdC Rose out of mag was my favorite Rose of '81, '96 and '06. The '90 was the youngest vintage that started to show some maturity. Unfortunately, the '89 was flawed.
Ronny Emborg's food at Atera was the best I've had since he's been there.

[David Glasser]

Ray, I too was surprised by how well a bottle of the '98 Comtes showed last week. Depth and complexity above and beyond expectations. Drank it next to the '02 which was in the same mold but needs more time IMO - should eventually be even better.

[p@ulbortin]

Did a 16 bottle - including a couple of mags - vertical a couple of nights ago. '71 CdC was my favorite with great mature Champagne aromas and flavors with still enough yellow fruit to make it Staggering Plus. The '81 was one of the better examples of the vintage that I've had, and there was a stylistic consistency among '95, '96, '98, '99, '02, '04 and '06. I was surprised how well the '98 showed. '96 CdC Rose out of mag was my favorite Rose of '81, '96 and '06. The '90 was the youngest vintage that started to show some maturity. Unfortunately, the '89 was flawed.
Ronny Emborg's food at Atera was the best I've had since he's been there.

Rank the wines? Awesome evening.

[Neal.Mollen]

98 Comtes is lovely. Not quite at the 95,96 level but really fine indeed

[Blake Brown]

Seeing this thread reminds me I still have 6 pack of the 06` and I'm taking the lady out for dinner tomorrow night so, this and a 95` Williams Selyem Hirsch Pinot Noir is accompanying us. TNs coming.

[Mike Grammer]

Big fan. So good. Recent-ish notes

October, 2017

2006 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne

More heft here, baked bread, hint of limoncello. Smooth, deep, caresses your mouth. If it doesn’t have quite the depth and finish of the 02, it has arguably more in reserve than that wine in terms of palate colour. I have been *very* spoiled to taste 3 vintages of Comtes already on this trip.

2005 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne

Peter (I think) commented how he could discern in a wine like this that it was a BdB. For me, nice straw and baked bread scents. And on the tongue, it's long and delicious for the vintage. Lovely tart apple, ginger, salted cracker and a fine match with the opening caviar course as well. Very enjoyable

2002 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne

Real hay and straw tones to lemon and apple scents. This is damned good. It has remarkable crispness and clarity, while still being very gulpable with tremendous drive on the mineral-enhanced aromatic replays. Revelicious, just gets better with each sip. Don't know why I should be surprised that Amy brings the WOTD



and from a month ago

2006 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne

This was my auction win from FallTacular this year, and while I might have saved it....

a truly ethereal bouquet filled with flowers, light flaky pastry/bakery scents and even a wisp of honey. And...can any Champagne be *this* smooth? Incredible velvet touch as it hits your tongue and just keeps on going, yet the length is superb and accentuates beautifully the lemon zest, apple cider/core and light yeast finish here. I have started to tend towards the bracing side of Champagne, but I could drink this as many days as you were willing to serve it to me.

[Blake Brown]

Big fan. So good. Recent-ish notes

October, 2017

2006 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne

More heft here, baked bread, hint of limoncello. Smooth, deep, caresses your mouth. If it doesn’t have quite the depth and finish of the 02, it has arguably more in reserve than that wine in terms of palate colour. I have been *very* spoiled to taste 3 vintages of Comtes already on this trip.

2005 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne

Peter (I think) commented how he could discern in a wine like this that it was a BdB. For me, nice straw and baked bread scents. And on the tongue, it's long and delicious for the vintage. Lovely tart apple, ginger, salted cracker and a fine match with the opening caviar course as well. Very enjoyable

2002 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne

Real hay and straw tones to lemon and apple scents. This is damned good. It has remarkable crispness and clarity, while still being very gulpable with tremendous drive on the mineral-enhanced aromatic replays. Revelicious, just gets better with each sip. Don't know why I should be surprised that Amy brings the WOTD



and from a month ago

2006 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne

This was my auction win from FallTacular this year, and while I might have saved it....

a truly ethereal bouquet filled with flowers, light flaky pastry/bakery scents and even a wisp of honey. And...can any Champagne be *this* smooth? Incredible velvet touch as it hits your tongue and just keeps on going, yet the length is superb and accentuates beautifully the lemon zest, apple cider/core and light yeast finish here. I have started to tend towards the bracing side of Champagne, but I could drink this as many days as you were willing to serve it to me.

I like how your are drinking recent-ish Mike. Taking Roelanda out for dinner tonight with an 06` in tow as posted above. Had some other choices for the CdC including 95`, 98`, 02` 04` 05` and 06`, but the 06` is just singing to me. See you soon my friend.

[Blake Brown]

Posting my notes on our dinner with the 06` CdC on a separate thread.

[Warren Taranow]

I just received my first offer for the ‘07. Private client offer from an online retailer.

[Russ Williams]

What was the price?