Taittinger 2006 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs

• A powerful Comtes with intense aromas
• One of the finest Comtes today, perfectly balanced despite its power

Prestige champagnes have become expensive, but the Comtes 2006 offers incredible value for money. Intense aromas – apple tart joins the usual lemon notes – great concentration, a full body and exemplary mineral freshness, it simply has everything you could wish for. 2006 was a warm, powerful year in Champagne. Nevertheless, Comtes has a perfectly integrated, racy acidity and is very well balanced. Cellar master Loïc Dupont considers the 2006 to be a very great Comtes, on a par with 2002.

Comtes de Champagne is made from Grand Cru Chardonnay grapes from Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Oger. A small portion of the base wines are aged in new oak barrels, which contributes to subtle toasty notes. It is aged on the lees for eight to nine years. The style is characterized by intense, fruity aromas, a creamy palate, and full body. While many Blanc de Blancs from these great vineyards have a firm palate for years, which is given a certain hardness by the chalky minerals, Comtes has this minerality as a deeper layer that adds tension to the palate. However, the minerality is perfectly cloaked in a silky texture.

Comtes de Champagne was first released in 1952. Considering that Salon was not available on the market at that time, it is the first Blanc de Blancs Prestige Cuvée. It is extremely cellarable and develops unique aromas reminiscent of smoke, truffles, and nuts after several decades.

98 Antonio Galloni vinous.com The 2006 Comtes de Champagne is in a great spot. Baked apple tart, spice, chamomile, marzipan, slate and chalk confer tremendous vibrancy and power throughout. Bright saline notes play off the natural exuberance of the year. The 2006 was spectacular on release. It's all that today, too.

750 mL

12.5

Champagne

Chardonnay

Sulphites

• Zero Dosage

France

Taittinger, 9, Place Saint-Nicaise, 51100 Reims, France