Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2011 - Grand Crus - Blanc de Blancs

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.

Characteristics of the Wines: freshness, tautness, purity, saltiness, sophistication and aromatic precision.

The Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs is the finest example of the Taittinger House style and is always a vintage cuvée. It is made with 100% white grapes from the 5 villages with a Grands Crus classification for the Chardonnay grape (Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger, Mesnil-sur-Oger).

This cuvée is created using juice from the first press only. A small percentage (5 %) of the blend is aged in fresh oak barrels to create the very delicate balance of toasted notes in the final wine. Taittinger knows it must be patient with these great Chardonnays, which are the crowning glory of its terroir; the Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs remains for up to 10 years in the chalk quarries beneath Saint-Nicaise, before emerging to ignite and delight the palates of wine-lovers.

A Comtes de Champagne is rare. The criteria governing its production mean that it cannot be created in large volumes.

Only 35 great vintages have been produced since the first cuvée in 1952. The Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs and Rosé are exceptional cellaring wines which survive the passage of time without losing their qualities and origins. Some of them have become legendary and can no longer be enjoyed - one can only listen to those who have tasted them.