Among Champagne's emblematic prestige cuvées, the Comtes de Champagne 2013 from Taittinger embodies the sovereign purity of Chardonnay. Born from the best Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs and patiently aged in silence, it captures the vibrant clarity offered by chalky terroirs. For lovers of finely chiselled expressions and gourmets seeking a Champagne for both the table and contemplation, it delivers a luminous signature that is at once precise and ample. Each flute reveals a delicate architecture, a dialogue between tension and roundness, making this cuvée a true moment of grace to share at a gastronomic dinner, a celebration or as a rare, thoughtful gift.

Blend and winemaking

This Champagne is a Blanc de Blancs made exclusively from Chardonnay of the 2013 harvest, sourced from the Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs, including Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Only the first press is retained, a guarantee of finesse and aromatic purity. Approximately 5% of the wines undergo a stint in new oak barrels for a few months, adding definition, toasty notes and a subtle spiced depth. The long ageing in the cellar, close to ten years, allows the wine to gain complexity, refine the effervescence and harmonise its palette. The dosage is in the Brut style, around 9 g/L, to balance chalky freshness and a caressing roundness, and to preserve the saline drive typical of great Champenois Chardonnays.

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Shining pale gold with green highlights, animated by a ribbon of remarkably delicate bubbles that attest to the excellent mousse development.
• Nose: Pure and nuanced expression, blending candied lemon, citrus zest, Williams pear and acacia flowers. Accents of toasted hazelnut, warm brioche and light honey open up with aeration, on a delicately mineral, chalky base.
• Palate: Lively attack, crystalline then silky texture, revealing flavours of citrus, white fruit and fine pastry notes. A few touches of ginger and liquorice underline the length, before a long, saline and taut finish of great energy.

Serving temperature and tips

Serve between 8 and 11°C in tall glasses with a sufficiently wide opening to allow the bouquet to unfold, such as tulip flutes or white wine glasses. Let the wine awaken for a few minutes after opening so the mineral thread and toasted nuances can fully reveal themselves. Store bottles horizontally, away from light, in a cool, stable environment. This cuvée can be enjoyed today for its luminous precision and will gain in complexity with a few additional years in the cellar, according to individual taste.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs: caviar, fine de claire oysters, Comté gougères, sea bass sashimi.
• Starters: scallop carpaccio, roasted langoustines, blue lobster in citrus jelly.
• Main courses: turbot meunière, sole with browned butter, Bresse chicken, tender veal with truffles.
• Cheeses: 18-month-aged Comté, Parmesan, delicate dry goat cheese.
• Desserts: thin tart with candied citrus, lightly sweetened lemon-almond entremet.

Tasting occasions

The Comtes de Champagne 2013 is the perfect companion to elevate a milestone event, accompany a dinner with precise pairings or to honour an exceptional gift for a discerning enthusiast. It evokes the French art of living, where the right gesture and the beauty of slow ageing come together around a flute that tells the terroir's story.

• Celebrate a key milestone with panache and restraint.
• Extend a gastronomic moment, from seafood to noble poultry.
• Offer an emblematic signature that is both luminous and profound.

Characteristics

• Name: Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne 2013
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Classification: Grand Cru
• Type: Blanc de Blancs, Brut
• Vintage: 2013
• Grape variety: Chardonnay 100%
• Alcohol: about 12.5%
• Winemaking: first press, about 5% aged in new oak barrels
• Aging: nearly 10 years on lees in the cellar
• Dosage: around 9 g/L
• Serving temperature: 8 to 11°C