NV Taittinger Champagne & Sparkling Wine "La Française Brut" (12/07)

Winery: Taittinger

Vintage: NV

Wine Name/Vineyard: "La Française Brut" (12/07)

Wine Category: Champagne & Sparkling Wine

Grape blend: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, & Chardonnay

Region: Champagne

State or country: France

Price: $40

Cases produced: 33,946

KWG Score: 92 (based on 6 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (93.99-90)

Review date: October 18, 2007

Wine Review: This clear Champagne is very tasty. It opens with a pleasant doughy bouquet. On the palate, this Champagne is acidic, refined, and elegant. This is a really terrific Champagne. The finish is dry and quite lengthy. This is a special occasion quality wine that will not break the bank. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: Taittinger Brut La Française is blended to maintain a delicate and elegant style from an extensive range of wines from diverse crus of Champagne. The foundation and consistency of the distinctive Taittinger style relies greatly on the proportion of each grape variety in the blend: Pinot Noir lends the finished blend body, vinosity, structure and power as well as the elegant red berry aromas typical of the variety; Pinot Meunier provides a supple, round fruitiness to the wine; Chardonnay contributes elegance, finesse, crispness and delicacy to the blend, as well as a degree of structure and longevity. Taittinger's reliance on Chardonnay for this cuvée, which approximates 40 percent of the finished wine, or over twice the percentage of Chardonnay as is used in the standard cuvées of most champagne houses, is the source of the exceptional refinement of the Taittinger style. A cellar reserve of approximately 5,000,000 bottles of wines from prior vintages allows the house to consistently achieve this style and quality. The reserve varies slightly from year to year as a function of the abundance of the harvest and global sales. The subtle, pale gold color of Taittinger Brut La Française is punctuated by extremely fine, persistent bubbles rising to the surface in fragile strands. The fragrant berry and white fruit aromas, underscored by toasty, yeasty notes are confirmed on the ample, elegant palate which is strongly marked by refined Chardonnay fruit flavors. A fresh, balanced acidity sustains the whole, and carries into a long, crisp toasty finish of great delicacy.

Organic status: not organic