- Already drinking surprisingly well
- Creamy palate, lemon, almonds, vanilla, and brioche
Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2012 is the perfect extample to illustrate why Comtes is the creamiest and most alluring of all Blanc de Blancs. After the lean 2011 and the mineral-driven 2008, the 2012 once again presents itself as a generous Blanc de Blancs with a silky texture and enticing fruit aromas.
The grapes for Comtes de Champagne come exclusively from the most renowned Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs: Avize, Le Mesnil, Chouilly, Cramant, and Oger. Taittinger relies on its own vineyards, as the house owns a total of 288 hectares of vines. Vinification follows a traditional approach. Since 1988, Taittinger has also experimented with oak barrels, about one-third of which are new. In Comtes de Champagne, however, the influence of oak remains subtle and firmly in the background.
The inaugural vintage of Comtes de Champagne was released in 1952. As Salon was not yet commercially available, it holds the distinction of being the very first prestige Blanc de Blancs cuvée. Renowned for its longevity, it evolves beautifully in the cellar, revealing over time complex notes of smoke, truffle, and nuts that emerge after decades of aging.