Product Information:
The 2013 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Blanc de Blancs is made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes sourced from the five villages classified as Grand Crus in the Côte des Blancs region. This cuvée is only produced in exceptional vintages, when the harvest is of a quality worthy of becoming a great vintage.
Taittinger’s 2013 Comtes de Champagne captures the finesse of Champagne’s cooler vintage with vibrant minerality and taut structure. Honeyed notes of ripe citrus, poached pear, and butter wafers lead the nose, gradually revealing deeper aromatic intensity. Light to medium-bodied, its vibrant acidity creates glorious tension and freshness, leading to a long, toasty finish. While enjoyable now, this Blanc de Blancs will develop beautifully through 2045.
Only the first press wine (the 'cuvée') is used, guaranteeing the highest quality. Additionally, 5% of the wines that form the final blend are matured for four months in fresh oak barrels, a third of which are renewed annually, to enhance the wine's complexity and add a subtle toasted flavour. Afterward, the bottles are aged for up to 10 years in Taittinger’s cellars, 18 meters underground, allowing for an extended maturation process that brings depth and refinement.
As Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, President of the Taittinger Champagne House, highlights, "Only 48 great vintages have been produced since the first cuvée in 1952." The 2013 release marks the 49th. Created to honour the Comtes de Champagne, particularly Thibaud IV, this prestigious Blanc de Blancs is made from Chardonnay sourced from the Grand Crus of Avize, Cramant, Chouilly, Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Oger—all renowned for their exceptional soil quality for Chardonnay.
Maker:
Taittinger is synonymous with elegance, prestige, and heritage in the world of champagne. Founded in 1734 by Jacques Fourneaux, Taittinger has remained a family-owned champagne house, passing down the craft of champagne-making through generations. This commitment to tradition, combined with innovation, has allowed Taittinger to create champagnes that embody luxury and sophistication.
At the heart of Taittinger's success is its expansive vineyard holdings, spanning over 288 hectares across the 'Côte des Blancs,' the 'Vallée de la Marne,' and the 'Montagne de Reims.' This third-largest vineyard owner in Champagne cultivates 37% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot Noir, and 15% Pinot Meunier, ensuring access to some of the best grapes in the appellation.
The Philosophy:
Taittinger's philosophy is centered on meticulous vineyard care. As Vineyard Manager Vincent Collard explains, "In order to have gold in our bottles, we must first have gold at our fingertips." Taittinger's estate produces about half of the grapes needed for production, sourcing the rest from partner vineyards with whom they share long-term commitments and cultural philosophies. The use of massal selection for 90% of their vineyards preserves genetic diversity and adds complexity to their wines.
The Taittinger style is crafted through a collaborative process, overseen by Pierre-Emmanuel, Clovis, and Vitalie Taittinger, supported by a talented tasting panel. Led by cellar master Alexandre Ponnavoy, the panel meets weekly to imagine the future of each blend, ensuring the Taittinger character and house style is preserved and perfected in every bottle.
Nose - Apricot, Baked Apple Tart, Mint and Yellow Flowers
Soars out of the glass with a captivating mix of tropical fruit, apricot, passion fruit, baked apple tart, mint and yellow flowers.
Palate - Deep and Mineral, Preserved Lemon, Herbaceous Nuances
Nervy and tight with notes of crushed almonds, chalk, white grapefruit, digestive biscuits, lemons and apricot stones.
Finish - Apple Blossom, Smoky Struck Flint, Delicate Salinity
Honeysuckle and apple blossom all come through, with a smoky struck flint character that builds on the finish.
The 2013 Comtes de Champagne is a towering Champagne, as it was last year. Rich, sumptuous and explosive, the 2013 soars out of the glass with a captivating mix of tropical fruit, apricot, passion fruit, baked apple tart, mint and yellow flowers. It is one of the most explosive, extroverted Comtes I have ever tasted. Impressive. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com, 98 Points.
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. Try after 2024. - James Suckling, 98 Points.
The 2013 Comtes de Champagne is a superb wine that has an old-school balance, acid-driven and refreshing with great depth. Pale straw in the glass, the nose offers white flowers, roasted chestnut and fine, freshly zested lemons. With a little air there are notes of brioche and cream, but the balance is cool and fresh. The palate is defined by a streak of acid that drives the palate forward, cutting through a silky, fine and persistent mousse. Preserved lemons, honeysuckle and apple blossom all come through, with a smoky struck flint character that builds on the finish. The leesy, supple richness builds on the palate on the back end, unfurling nicely to highlight the ageing potential. Vertical, intense and long, this is an excellent vintage here. - Thomas Parker MW, 97 Points.
After the relatively easygoing 2012 comes the more serious 2013 vintage. A long growing season with a late harvest has marked the wine with intense acids. The aromas are also cool and intense: lemony fruit on the palate is fragranced with just a hint of coffee beans. As the wine warms in the glass, herbaceous nuances emerge (and a dusting of almonds for good measure). Full of nervy energy from start to finish, the mid-palate interjects a ripe juiciness, hinting at the oft-ignored ripeness of this vintage. The acidity and extended lees aging have imparted a delicate salinity on the long, complex finish. Phenominally phenolic! This precise and fresh rendition of Comtes de Champagne may threaten to topple 2008 from its throne in the decades ahead. Excellent! Drink from 2028-2055. Tasted: 3-Nov-23. - Steve Pritchard, Inside Burgundy, 97 Points.
The Finer Details
Style - Champagne
Varietal - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Country - France
Region - Champagne
Vintage - 2013
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 12.5%
