Taittinger 2005 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs

The Comtes de Champagne 2005, made from Chardonnay grapes from Avize, Mesnil, Cramant, Oger and Chouilly, is now in a wonderful drinking window with the beginnings of ripeness, but is still improving. The nose is characterised by intense toasted notes, reminiscent of roasted hazelnuts and toast, underpinned by ripe lemon. The creamy, buttery palate is also characterised by lemon and roasted notes, fading to more mineral contours towards the end, finishing with a butterscotch caramel note. It is now so seductive that you would drink your last bottles if you didn't know how extremely long-lasting this champagne is and what flavours still await you.

96 (94) Richard Juhlin champagneclub.com A really wonderful Comtes from the start. As usual, one manages to succed very well especially warm, slightly low on oxygen vintages, as the neighbors' wines often appear as flat and publicly single-tracked. Although the acidity is not particularly marked here, the aromatic citrus fresh touches of the vineyards manage to leave a freshuplifting side to the creamy fatty caressing. The ending is certainly chalky and elegant, but it rises to heavenly heights with a 76-like buttercream soft warm sweet enveloping taste pillow