Champagne Taittinger - Brut Réserve

Fruit, freshness, and character: that’s already a definition of champagne. Today, it’s one of the best non-vintage bruts.

From the vineyards to the presentation of its cuvées, Taittinger has become a shining example for Champagne and wine 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.

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. After coming under the control of an American pension fund in 2005 and being bought back by the family a year later, the company 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.

The latest release of the non-vintage brut cuvée is true to the house style, strongly influenced by Chardonnay, which lends it a lovely elegance and a creamy texture.

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; it 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.” Over the past few years, we have noticed an increase in the density of the wines.