N.V. Taittinger Champagne Brut

WIML,

Thanks for the note. I have a bottle of the La Française from Taittinger. Is this the same wine you had or is it a different cuvee'?

Same wine.

Found a good deal on these over the weekend ($21.50), so shared an after-work bottle with my wife this eve. Served chilled, popped, and allowed to warm as we finished it over about 90 minutes.

My wife commented on the butteriness immediately. Not as much for me, and I found good weight and mouthfeel to it, with nice creaminess, minimal but present toast/yeast, good citrus (lemon), pear, aromas and flavor. Crisp minerality when cooler, more sweetness as it warmed. A clean, medium, and slightly bitter (lemon rind?) finish. I prefer it cooler, my wife, warmer.

A tasty, well made sparkler, in a richer style, but doesn't wow. I would like a bit less fizz, and this should settle down if we can manage to hold onto a bottle for a few years. 90pts. Drink now, or hold short term.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:


but doesn't wow.

IB, it was a $21 wine, do not put too much expectation on her.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:


but doesn't wow.

IB, it was a $21 wine, do not put too much expectation on her.

I guess I expected a tiny bit more from a wine that often goes for twice the price, or more. Still, good call, as I never would consider a personal 90pt. Champy a disappointment for $21. Very happy having stumbled upon six forlorn bottles in a local grocery's clearance cart. They'll be great to have for holiday entertaining and thank you gifts.

quote:

Originally posted by indybob:

I would like a bit less fizz, and this should settle down if we can manage to hold onto a bottle for a few years.

I thought the same thing, and retried an NV and found I liked it when the acidity is more brisk and the wine had a crispness and felt tightly wound. Some NVs I did not try but just held and thought they were kind of flat while I found them to be excellent when young. By them I am referring to K&L Champagne club selections, not specific wines tried at two points in evolution. Not perfect science I know, but I fear I have held on to some NVs that will be less than ideal to my personal preference. Won't know till I try more though.

Picked this up on sale in Seattle, nicely balanced, good fruit and plenty of acidity. With that said, still prefer Veuve in this price range.