Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2013, [Pre-Arrival]

98 points James Suckling
"Nervy and tight with notes of crushed almonds, chalk, white grapefruit, digestive biscuits, lemons and apricot stones. Hints of fennel and white pepper. Deep and mineral, with plenty of power. Very fine bubbles. Long drive at the end."

98 points Wine Enthusiast
"This beautiful Chardonnay from five top Grand Cru vineyards is textured with fruit that is still impressively perfumed. Its concentration has allowed it to remain perennially young. Although there are hints of toastiness, the Champagne has many more years of potential." *Cellar Selection*

Jancis Robinson
"Blend of Chardonnay from Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger – all the usual suspects! Aged on lees for nine years. Disgorged in April 2023 after nine years on lees with the relatively high (usual) dosage of 9 g/l.
Pale lemony straw colour. This seems to have the characteristic intricate sort-of 'embroidered' nose – lots going on there but still delicate. Masses of lemon-curd flavours and a bit of something mineral. Much more refreshing than the 2011 rosé counterpart although there is lots of fruit on the finish too. The polar opposite of a grower's Zero Dosage! But very luxuriously textured and, with its marked acidity, definitely a champagne that will repay ageing. 18/20 points."

Vinous Reverie Notes
Winery: The ’must-read’ legend of the ‘Comtes de Champagne’ (Counts of Champagne) from the 16th century is a marvellous narrative of an assumed reality, combined with the storyteller’s imagination and poetry. Its relevance today is not so much down to its historical accuracy; it is more an emotional tale, with new adaptations which continue to flourish to this day. The flamboyant legend of Thibaud IV le Chansonnier is very much connected to the unique Comtes de Champagne blend by Taittinger.
In the prosperous and powerful region of Champagne, Count Thibaud IV, King of Navarre, embodied the height of the political, economic and artistic influence of Champagne from 1222 to 1253.
Thibaud IV was a king, lord, manager, singer, conqueror and explorer all rolled into one. Captivated by a courtly love for Blanche de Castille, the future mother of Saint-Louis, he left for the crusades in 1239. He brought back two treasures from the Orient, the like of which had never been seen before in the Christian world - the Damask rose and an example of a new grape variety, now known to be the ancestor of the Chardonnay grape. The writing of the Taittinger legend begins here...
The DNA of the ‘Comtes de Champagne vintage'
Spirit, vitality, sophistication and elegance
The strength and sophistication of the Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs comes from the exceptional conditions found in the Côte des Blancs region. Its slopes are located south of Epernay and dominate the chalky Champagne plain. 95% of its vineyards are planted with Chardonnay vines, whose white grapes create champagne with a light, delicate aroma full of character and vitality.
In 1952, the Taittinger Champagne House created the Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs - its most exclusive and premium cuvée - in honour of the Comtes de Champagne and in particular Thibaud IV, whose seal proudly adorns every bottle of Taittinger.
It is made only with Chardonnay grapes from the Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs region, including the villages of Avize, Cramant, Chouilly, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger, which all have a renowned soil quality for this particular variety in the region.
In the underground silence of the chalk quarries of Saint-Nicaise, the only sound is the echoing steps of the riddlers…
Comtes de champagne blanc de blancs
The Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs is the finest example of the Taittinger House style and is always a vintage cuvée. It is made with 100% white grapes from the 5 villages with a Grands Crus classification for the Chardonnay grape (Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger, Mesnil-sur-Oger).
This cuvée is created using juice from the first press only. A small percentage (5 %) of the blend is aged in fresh oak barrels to create the very delicate balance of toasted notes in the final wine. Taittinger knows it must be patient with these great Chardonnays, which are the crowning glory of its terroir; the Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs remains for up to 10 years in the chalk quarries beneath Saint-Nicaise, before emerging to ignite and delight the palates of wine-lovers.