Well, here we go! Many may know the drill already, but for those unfamiliar, there are some great bubble-filled weeks that lie ahead! From now until the end of the year, each week's Champagne Monday and subsequentSaturday tasting will be focused entirely around an iconic Champagne house, with their range on pour and on special for that week (in several cases like today though, the entry cuvées will stay on an ongoing special until the end of the year). We can't think of a better name to get the ball rolling with than Taittinger!
As the two ongoing specials, the versatile Brut Reserve NV (gift-boxed) and rich Prestige Brut Rosé NV will sit at these great offer prices all the way through until the New Year; both always stand out as terrific fridge-fillers and easy-sippers for those long lunches or dinner events that will be popping up more and more as the weeks go by. Moving upwards from there, with specials until next week, we have the Prélude Grand Crus NV (a favourite among our staff), with a 50/50 Pinot Noir Chardonnay makeup and ample power from its 2015 base vintage, the zesty Brut Millésimé 2016vintage, holding a more pristine floral personality, and of course, the iconicComtes de Champagne! We've gone for the 2013 release, as it's looking absolutely phenomenal at the moment, with arresting intensity contrasted with vivid persistent fruit elegance and welcome flicks of toasty pastry.
These will all be pouring come this Saturday (1st November) between 12 and 2pm! While we've made sure to order extra so that latecomers don't miss out (we'll be pouring a magnum of the Brut Reserve, and we have an additional bottle of the Rosé), the bottles at these tastings do tend to run dry before the finish, so we suggest long-time fans as well as any keen newcomers to Taittinger's wonderful style make it in before those gold and pink bubbles disappear.
Full lineup and specials below, with all bottles available now!
The Lineup -
Brut Reserve NV -
$89 ongoing special ($99 RRP)
// 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier
Dosage: 9gr/l
Lees aging for a minimum of 3 years
"This is soft, succulent & delightfully structured champagne with a nose of Asiatic lilies, yellow iris & white Hawthorn hedge flowers. The palate opens up to raspberries, new season strawberries, lemon, tangelo, honeydew melon, pink grapefruit and pears. There is layer of apple jam on fresh sour dough bread sprinkled with cinnamon & hints of apple strudel with the flaked pastry – followed by honeyed nuts, glazed peaches, new season apricot and mandarin & little flicks of pineapple. A fresh & lively champagne with a lovely layer of chardonnay which sings of lightness & style." - Bernadette O'Shea, Champagne Consultant
Prestige Brut Rosé NV -
$99 ongoing special ($130 RRP)
// 75% Pinot Noir & Meunier and 30% Chardonnay
Dosage: 9gr/l
"The colour is quite deep: a full salmon-pink hue and the nose has very pinoty aromas of poached fruit, quince paste and raspberry shortcake. A concentrated wine. The palate is rich and full with fluffy mousse contributing appealing texture and the finish is clean, dry and balanced for drinkability." - 95 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
Prélude Grand Crus NV -
$140 on special this week ($159 RRP)
// 50% Pinot Noir & 50% Chardonnay
All fruit selected from top 'Grand Crus' vineyards
2015 base vintage
Aged for over 5 years on lees in cellar
"The nose reflects white and lemon roses, citrus blossom and opens to a palate of apple, pear, preserved lemon, juicy white peaches, tangerine peel, wild cherries and strawberries. It has rich lingering flavours, a sophisticated & complex depth showing structure and finesse. It has great vibrance and persistent bubbles all sprinkled over with cinnamon, iodine, white pepper, finely crushed seashells and an edging of honeycomb. There is an impressive richness, a lovely creaminess and wonderful vibrancy to this outstanding champagne." - Bernadette O'Shea, Champagne Consultant, TWE
An equal blend of chardonnay and pinot noir from Taittinger's top Grand Cru vineyards, with five years maturation on the yeast lees in bottle. Absolutely top Champagne with Taittinger's signature etherealness and purity. Fresh baguette crust with a hint of oyster shell-mineral and subtle citrus flavours." - 96 Points, Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review
$150 on special this week ($169 RRP)
// 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir
70% Grand Cru and 30% Premier Cru vineyards
Aged for over 5 years on lees in the cellar
9g/L dosage
"Outstanding elegance and finesse pervade this exceptional wine with its well-honed toasty sourdough, gunflint and grilled citrus notes, razor sharp acidity and mouth-filling mousse. Brilliantly poised and brimming with potential, the long and zesty finish runs and runs." - 97 Points, Decanter World Wine Awards
"A very complete, delicious champagne, which will appeal to all tastes. Plenty of weight on the palate, complex aromas with hedgerow/floral notes to the fore. Ready to enjoy now but will keep." - 17.5/20 Points, Andy Howard MW, JancisRobinson.com
Comtes de Champagne 2013 -
$420 on special this week ($470 RRP)
// 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay (Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger & Oger)
Aged on lees for 9 years before disgorgement in early 2023
Dosage 9g/L
"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." - 98 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"Light, bright yellow colour, young for its age. An arrestingly gorgeous bouquet of lightly browned toast, lightly buttered, with small white flowers and apple blossom nuances, the palate intense and refined, focused and long, with tremendous complexity that is gently stated and immediately super-charming to the senses. A wonderful wine, vivacious yet profound." - 98 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
If you wish to purchase any of these champagnes, please use the links above
Otherwise, if you have any questions, please contact us on (07)32521117 or email sales@thewineemporium.com.au
// Price valid until Monday the 3rd of November