New Release - Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, Blanc de Blancs 2014

The old adage, that good things come to those who wait, certainly applies to Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne. After all, few Grand Marques age their premium cuvees as long as Taittinger. We are therefore delighted, finally, to be able to offer their latest rendition - Comtes de Champagne 2014. Having tasted it recently we can say with certainty that it is well worth the wait; another triumphant iteration of this iconic Blanc de Blancs, brimming with all the energy and tension you’d expect from this pure Chardonnay cuvee.

A key factor in the poise and finesse of Comtes comes from the 10 years it spends ageing sur lie; a decade of maturation that has created a prodigiously complex wine built of layers of flavour that flood the palate in multiple dimensions. It is full of the pure bright fruit of the vintage yet feels driven and controlled by a salty, citric energy; a combination that leaves your palate feeling both sated and uplifted.

Comtes 2014 is a captivating wine of precision and focus, but in this vintage it feels broader rather than concentrated - already open and enjoyable, yet still full of the verve and energy this cuvee always delivers in spades. Ripe citrus fruit permeates the palate alongside lemon curd, effervescent sherbet and bitter orange rind which interplay with the beautifully creamy texture. It mellows on the finish with an assured grace and ease, imbued with fragrant salted lemons, orange blossom and chalk that lingers incessantly. Drink it now or cellar it for a decade or more.

As ever, the composition of the blend features fruit from the heart of the Cotes de Blancs – the five Grand Cru Villages of Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger, a narrow strip of terroir whose soils provide minerality, strength and aromatic delicacy. Vinification is primarily done in stainless steel tanks to retain freshness and purity. However, 5% of the wine is aged for four months in new and second fill oak barrels, to increase depth and complexity. This contributes the subtle autolytic character; brioche, vanilla cream and toast accents, that make this cuvee so alluring.

“Closed in style and character like the 2013, Taittinger's 2014 Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne reveals aromas of ripe orchard fruit, confit citrus, dried flowers, herbs, spring blossoms and mirabelle mingled with customary autolytic notes. Full-bodied, seamless and enrobing, it has a delicate, elegant, fleshy core of fruit and racy acids, all enhanced by a saline, fresh and penetrating finish marked by finesse and elegance. This refined, chalky-inflected Comtes de Champagne has the potential to age gracefully over the next 30-40 years.” 97 Points, Johan Castaing, The Wine Advocate (Tasted Oct 2024). Drink 2024-2054

“The 2014 Comtes de Champagne is pristine. In this tasting, it comes across as a mini-2008, similar in its linear personality, with just a touch more mid-palate creaminess. Readers will find a Comtes that plays in the realm of tension and energy. Citrus confit, white flowers, chalk, mint and chamomile are all finely sketched. Light tropical overtones grace the finish. What an absolute delight. The 2014 can be enjoyed now or cellared. Dosage is 9 grams per liter.” 97 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (Tasted April 2025). Drink 2026-2044