Champagne Taittinger - Brut Cuvée Prestige avec étui

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

From its vineyards to the presentation of its cuvées, Taittinger has become a shining example for Champagne and the wine world in general. All of its wines—not just the most prestigious ones—are brilliant representatives of the classic Champagne style, characterized by a fresh, lively elegance that makes them perfect as an aperitif. Each cuvée also has its own distinct personality, with the flagship Comtes de Champagne Blanc—made exclusively from Chardonnays sourced from six Grand Crus of the Côte des Blancs—and an unforgettable, exquisitely refined rosé at the top of the range. The days when the non-vintage brut was the house’s weak point are long gone: light, floral, and fruity, it is a delightful aperitif. The rest of the range is equally impressive—brilliant, spirited, and dynamic.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Alexandre Fourneaux produced still wines in Rilly-la-Montagne. His son founded a wine merchant firm as early as 1734. Two centuries later, in 1936, Pierre Taittinger became the majority shareholder of the Forest-Fourneaux company, to which he gave his name. Acquired in 2005 by an American pension fund and repurchased by the family a year later, the business is now led by Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger. Before moving to the historic site of the Butte Saint-Nicaise, it was headquartered at the Hôtel des Comtes de Champagne, hence the name of its prestige cuvée. The house owns 4th-century chalk cellars and a vast vineyard (288 ha). Chardonnay is its signature grape variety.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

The flamboyant P.E.T. (Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger), now flanked by his children Vitalie and Clovis and a rejuvenated team, is getting this major house back on track. The house boasts historic chalk cellars and a treasure trove of vineyards (including rare massal selections and 180 hectares cultivated without herbicides). “Taittinger’s future lies not so much in increasing volumes as in increasing the proportion of luxury cuvées in our portfolio,” explains Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, placing particular emphasis on the Comtes de Champagne cuvée. The dosage (a constant 9 grams per liter) is championed here as a “flavor enhancer, indispensable in non-vintage bruts.” We have noticed an increase in the density of the wines over the past few years.