Taittinger : Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2008

Concentrated and rare, a fine Blanc de Blancs champagne by Taittinger

The estate

The history of the Taittinger Champagne House began in the early 20th century. Ran by Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger and his two children, Clovis and Vitalie, the Taittinger House has managed to preserve its family spirit by producing champagnes that are resolutely Chardonnay in style. Since January 1st 2020, Vitalie Taittinger is the President of the Taittinger Champagne House.

The vineyard

The vineyards owned by the Taittinger Champagne House spread across 288 hectares of vines and include 37 different crus. This makes Taittinger the third largest vineyard in Champagne. The entire vineyard bears a High Environmental Value certificate.

The wine

An exceptional Champagne, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs by Taittinger was created as a tribute to Count Thibaut IV, King of Navarre, who brought back the ancestor of the Chardonnay grape variety from the Crusades. Always a vintage champagne, this prestigious champagne is only produced only during the finest winemaking years. Since 1952, only 37 vintages have been announced.

The vintage

A perfect expression of the Champagne region’s continental climate, the 2008 vintage was marked by a cold winter and a hot summer with a slow ripening period. For this 2008 vintage, the harvest took place from September 15th to October 10th during sunny conditions, with cool temperatures. Described as a miracle in Champagne, 2008 gave birth to remarkable wines that expressed their freshness, tension, purity and finesse all while retaining a beautiful saline expression.

Vinification and ageing

A rare and world-renowned champagne, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs by Taittinger undergoes a very rigorous and long winemaking process. Only the purest juice from the first press is used. 5% of the wines used in the blend have been aged in new oak barrels, one third of which are renewed each year, providing toasty notes. Lastly, this exceptional champagne is patiently aged for ten to twelve years in the Gallo-Roman chalk pits of the former Saint-Nicaise Abbey in Reims. Comtes de Champagne 2008 by the Taittinger House has been aged for 12 years in cellars.

The blend

100% Chardonnay, this Blanc de Blancs comprises grapes from 5 villages that are classified "Grands Crus" in the Côte des Blancs: Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger.

The tasting

Colour

Dazzling, Comtes de Taittinger Blanc de Blancs 2008 by Taittinger presents a superb brilliant pale yellow colour with green highlights, highlighting the delicate string of bubbles.

Nose

On the nose, the saline and mineral expression of the great chalky terroirs is expressed. Deep, precise and very fresh, the aromatic bouquet is complex yet not overpowering. At first, notes of pear, then citrus fruit, white pepper and floral notes of orange blossom blend brilliantly with notes of liquorice and toast.

Palate

Very fine, the palate highlights all the raw and pure expression of this 2008 vintage. Concentrated, tense and mineral, the palate nevertheless retains a fruity profile with flavours of white fruit, grapefruit and menthol.

Storage

Bursting with energy and ready to be enjoyed in its youth, the Comtes de Taittinger Blanc de Blancs 2008 by Taittinger has an extraordinary ageing potential.