Erika Turner

9.1

Mumsy: ‘like drinking lemon meringue pie’ — 4 months ago

with See and Rubychick

John Bratincevic

9.2

Nose: lemon, mousse, sweet orange, candied cherry, a tiny hint of floral vanilla. Smells very inviting!

Taste: mousse, vanilla, lemon meringue (?), mild nuttiness, smooth and silky texture. Distinct cherry on the finish. Marvelous. Great value, better than most champagne I’ve tried. 92. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Well...this was one hell of a week. There is only one way to wind it down. Reach for an excellent bottle of vintage Champagne.

My first thoughts are how delicate this is on the palate. Further, how unbelievable it will be with another 8-10 years in bottle.

The nose shows; slightly sour lemon, the good parts of lemon Pledge, lemon meringue, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, brioche, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanilla, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies.

The body is light on its feet and dances on the palate. Delicacy abounds. Its soft, gorgeous mousse right there with the best money can buy. Slightly sour lemon, lemon meringue, green & with more bruised golden apple, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, touch of apple cider, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, ginger ale into cream soda, brioche, nougat, toffee notes, lighter nuts without skin, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanillin, marzipan, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies. The acidity is mellow yet lively, gorgeous and as good as it gets. The finish is all luxury. So well knitted & balanced, elegant, rich but not overpowering and gently persisting several minutes.

Photos of; The House of Taittinger, their caves so chalky white and built on the famous Crayères Cellars of Reims: 2.5 miles of tunnels (they own 1/4 to 1/3 of it) cut out of chalk by the Romans, the portrait of Thibaud IV who was a king, lord, manager, singer, conqueror, explorer & 11th century Crusader all rolled into one from which, this Cuvée was the catalyst creation and part of the 600 plus hectares they own in Champange.

Some producer notes; Taittinger's history can be traced back to 1734, when it was originally known as Forest-Fourneaux, founded by Jacques Fourneaux who worked closely with local Benedictine monks to learn how to produce wine. They were just the 3rd Champange house.

The estate was bought by the Taittingers – a family of wine merchants – in 1932, and thanks to the great depression and subsequent low land prices, the family also picked up huge swathes of vineyard. From 1945-1960, Francois Taittinger established the cellars in the Abbey of Saint-Nicaise, and after his death in 1960 his brother Claude took over, pushing the estate into a Champagne house of world renown. Such was the status of the label that the Taittinger family soon expanded its business into other luxury goods. However, this eventually led to financial difficulties, and in 2005 the Taittinger brand – including the Champagne house – was sold to the American owned Starwood Hotel Group. The sale was badly received by the Champagne industry, with many fearing the new owners – unfamiliar with the culture of Champagne – would put profit ahead of quality.

Just one year later, Claude’s nephew, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, who had always been opposed to the sale, negotiated a €660m deal with the Starwood Group, and the Taittinger family resumed ownership of the company.

In 2017, Taittinger planted its first vines in England, near a village in Kent, for its venture into English sparkling wine. The first bottle will be ready in 2023.

1/8/21 — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Some days are better than others to pop a bottle of champagne and drink a toast. Today is one of those better days! Cheers! 🍾🥂

Excellent with roasted chicken & mash potatoes.

Meyer lemon, lemon meringue, lime w/ zest, red & green apples, hints of apple cider, kiwi, green melon, ginger ale, whipped cream, caramel notes, bread dough, yeasty notes, vanillin, alluvial limestone, sea spray, refined chalkiness, yellow lilies, spring flowers, round yet crisp acidity, well; balanced structured & tensioned. Elegant and smartly polished finish that lasts 90 seconds. From 375ml. — 7 months ago

Brian S

9.4

Wine is showing extremely well but could still use sometime to age. Lemon, lime, orange marmalade, green apple, pear, some confection, medium acidity, what I would describe as a beautiful acidic, citrusy with touches of dairy key/lemon meringue pie. — 4 years ago

with Ellie

Emily Kresie-Harrington

9.0

2018 vintage. Good example of oaked Sauv Blanc blend (even says "elevé en fûts de chêne" on the label). 70-20-10 SB, Sémillon, Muscadelle. Lemon meringue, dill, a little coconut, banana peel, sunflower seed, dandelion. Oak is definitely overt, but well-integrated. — 5 years ago

Seth Masterson

9.1

A blend of all estate vineyards.
Most malo of all tasted.
Vanilla, lemon meringue, clove and a wee allspice on the closing notes.
Represents a very well crafted, expertly crafted wine but it has a bit of a generic character of 'Cool climate California Chardonnay'.
The ticket price of $95 retail is an expensive admission for this show. — a year ago

Emily Kresie-Harrington

9.0

2019 vintage. This changes a lot, depending on temperature. Passionfruit, lime, gooseberry when well-chilled; fatter, oakier notes when warmer, like lemon meringue pie, apple skin, dried white fig, apricot, chalk, little coconut and dill. — 3 years ago

Amy Rehagen

9.5

Bone dry with an Incredible mousse, full of meringue. Clean and snappy with tons of Meyer lemon. Stunning! — 4 years ago

with Ryrie

Christopher Losa

Owner/Wine Director Bar Bambino

9.1

outstanding. salinity , lemon meringue, deep thyme/sage coming from a bit of extended maceration. — 5 years ago