David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Well...this was one hell of a week. There is only one way to wind it down. Reach for an excellent bottle of vintage Champagne.

My first thoughts are how delicate this is on the palate. Further, how unbelievable it will be with another 8-10 years in bottle.

The nose shows; slightly sour lemon, the good parts of lemon Pledge, lemon meringue, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, brioche, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanilla, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies.

The body is light on its feet and dances on the palate. Delicacy abounds. Its soft, gorgeous mousse right there with the best money can buy. Slightly sour lemon, lemon meringue, green & with more bruised golden apple, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, touch of apple cider, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, ginger ale into cream soda, brioche, nougat, toffee notes, lighter nuts without skin, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanillin, marzipan, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies. The acidity is mellow yet lively, gorgeous and as good as it gets. The finish is all luxury. So well knitted & balanced, elegant, rich but not overpowering and gently persisting several minutes.

Photos of; The House of Taittinger, their caves so chalky white and built on the famous Crayères Cellars of Reims: 2.5 miles of tunnels (they own 1/4 to 1/3 of it) cut out of chalk by the Romans, the portrait of Thibaud IV who was a king, lord, manager, singer, conqueror, explorer & 11th century Crusader all rolled into one from which, this Cuvée was the catalyst creation and part of the 600 plus hectares they own in Champange.

Some producer notes; Taittinger's history can be traced back to 1734, when it was originally known as Forest-Fourneaux, founded by Jacques Fourneaux who worked closely with local Benedictine monks to learn how to produce wine. They were just the 3rd Champange house.

The estate was bought by the Taittingers – a family of wine merchants – in 1932, and thanks to the great depression and subsequent low land prices, the family also picked up huge swathes of vineyard. From 1945-1960, Francois Taittinger established the cellars in the Abbey of Saint-Nicaise, and after his death in 1960 his brother Claude took over, pushing the estate into a Champagne house of world renown. Such was the status of the label that the Taittinger family soon expanded its business into other luxury goods. However, this eventually led to financial difficulties, and in 2005 the Taittinger brand – including the Champagne house – was sold to the American owned Starwood Hotel Group. The sale was badly received by the Champagne industry, with many fearing the new owners – unfamiliar with the culture of Champagne – would put profit ahead of quality.

Just one year later, Claude’s nephew, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, who had always been opposed to the sale, negotiated a €660m deal with the Starwood Group, and the Taittinger family resumed ownership of the company.

In 2017, Taittinger planted its first vines in England, near a village in Kent, for its venture into English sparkling wine. The first bottle will be ready in 2023.

1/8/21 — 3 years ago

Raj Harb

9.0

Give it time, just not enough bottle age yet. It felt a bit shy and peachy after the boudignon. Great value, though. — 7 years ago

Matt Kern

9.4

Nicely complimenting oaked wine. One of our favs from Alain. — 9 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Now we are taking. 100% Tressallier. A Val de Loire from St. Pourcain as you can’t have 100% Tressalier be St. Pourcain. Has to be blended with Chardonnay. Anyway. What a wine. Nose is green grass and lemon candy. Salty and high toned. Gorgeous minerality. So focused and a sense of deepness and refinement. 50 types and textures of lemon on the nose. Candied, fresh, flesh, rind, Meyer. The whole shebang. Stunning. Palate is concentrated, serene and so silky. This is so classy. Amazing texture and so delicate. Stunning purity and freshness. Blew me away. Long and clearly delineated finish. So complex and mineral. This reminds me of so many things but it’s really it’s own thing. Like a hypothetical blend of Boudignon Anjou Blanc/Brisset/Mullen Kab Trocken. Insane

As this airs the nose gets more saline, confectionary, and just crazy. So airy. A Chablisien vibe enters at minute 30. So well made. Holy acids! — 3 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.4

Boudignon with oysters. The nose is lively, plush and full. But my still great tension over the gums. — 5 years ago

with Mark and Matt

John Osgood

9.4

Great stuff. Geeky with good balance. — 6 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 2011 - really good work from Thibaud Boudignon, expressive wine with honey, apricot #soucherie #coteauxdulayon #premiercruchaume #chaume — 7 years ago

Shane M. Nicholson

9.0

Cht les Grands Thibaud Bordeaux 2012. 90 point Nicholson does it again! Elegant, affordable, supple and traditionally styled. Tastes like Bordeaux, but on a Franzia budget. Beautifully packaged in a wood box too. As my bonus gift to you! Only $9.99 retail. Say what?!?! — 9 years ago

Vincent Bottreau

9.7

Très belle découverte : Belluard, cépage grinchet, nez exotique, menthe poivrée, superbe finale racée. Merci Thibaud ! — 10 years ago

roland benedetti

9.5

A fantastic low intervention Syrah from Slope / Thibaud Caballero.
This is crying Syrah, with tones of spices and such a fruit!

Absolutely delish! — 4 years ago

romo

9.1

Vintage 2014 | Razorsharpe Chenin Blanc with minerality. Not a wine to get acquainted with the grape, it does by no means try to charm you. But for lovers of a Chenin Blanc, it is top! Nice acidity. Pure. | A lot like @Peter van den Besselaar ’s Boudignon from last week. Happy Birthday! 🎂 — 4 years ago

Raj Harb

9.4

This followed boudignon chenin blanc which was such a laser that the Miani initially felt quite plush by contrast. It settled in but ultimately is still a relatively big and powerful wine. I loved it, but it was a bit less detailed and impactful than the 2013 friulano buri I drank last year. Forgot to take a photo oops — 6 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

Vintage 2013 - Tasted and retasted after 48 hours aeration. Both times very good but with air much more smell, hints of honey, flowers. Very high acidity, razorsharp #cheninblanc #savennieres that has much potential for aging. Château Soucherie has a few nice guestrooms. Wine is made under supervision of Thibaud Boudignon. — 6 years ago

Philip Stumbo

9.8

YES to all of this! — 8 years ago

Vincent Bottreau

9.3

#2009 : un bébé grand vin. Frais, droit, joli touché de bouche, qq. notes végétales cependant. À attendre. Merci Thibaud ! — 10 years ago