Steve Reiss

9.4

A fantastic red blend! — 6 months ago

Erica Gamble

9.3

Petite sirah, sangiovese, merlot blend. Dark color. Mushroom / damp earth nose. Dark, bold flavors with complexity. Really nice wine, and from Ramona! — a year ago

Roger Ray

8.9

An exciting collaboration between my favorite singer, Dave Matthews and an award-winning wine maker Sean McKenzie. " This wine pulls you in with notes of smokey berry and a pop of raspberry jam". Very enjoyable and reasonably priced wine — 3 years ago

Mike Dinter

9.8

mit Jan Ramona und den Oldies in Wahlscheidt — a year ago

Bob Hayes

9.2

Very plummy. Smooth start with a smoky finish, like the first song in the last set of the night - voiced by a sultry jazz singer in an underground bar.

A FAVORITE and definitely a buy again. — 2 years ago

Johanna Peterson

9.8

Perfect cabernet. Earthy and perfectly balanced. Haven't had a wine this nice since Europe — 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

Mike Dinter

9.2

mit Jan Ramona und den Oldies in Wahlscheidt — a year ago

UWS

9.0

20220610: Zuma London with Jean&Ramona Sassine and Cedric
Nice fruitful slight heavy but very smooth — 2 years ago

Ron from VA

9.1

First, rating is based on peak maturity, probably 2-3 years ago. I would estimate this mass lost 15-20% of is max acid/tannin profile. Nevertheless, this PV still has the power to push thru meatloaf (fatty proteins). It’s easy to see how ripe the 2010 vintage was…while structure has regressed, this sturdy & viscous PV remains sweet and polished in flavor notes. The finish was still positive and refreshing, lacking any sourness or VA… With its age, and degradation, simply finding the right food to pair will still allow the best of this veteran singer to entertain. Five additional various 2010 PVs from the region to evaluate. I am cautiously hopeful that we will find one that has stood the phenolic test of time (the battle to retail tannins vs acid in a hot hot Virginia vintage). — 3 years ago