Comtes de Champagne, Taittinger’s legendary cuvée
Comtes de Champagne, the legendary cuvée from Taittinger
The legend of its origins, ‘which must be read’, became in the 16th century a marvellous tale in which presumed reality intertwines with the imagination and poetry of the storyteller. To endure, it requires no proof but, on the contrary, a shared sense of emotion that is constantly renewed. In this respect, the flamboyant legend of Thibaud IV the Songster echoes that of Taittinger’s highly exclusive Comtes de Champagne cuvée.
The Legend of Thibaud IV
In a prosperous and powerful Comte de Champagne, Count Thibaud IV, King of Navarre, single-handedly embodied, from 1222 to 1253, the zenith of the political, economic and artistic influence of this Champagne family, which was in its day the second most powerful family in France after the King’s own.
A king in his own right, a lord, a poet, a minstrel and a conqueror, Thibaud IV was all these things at once. Bound by a love as great as it was chivalrous for his aunt Blanche of Castile, mother of the future Saint Louis, he was compelled to set out on a crusade in 1239. He would return from the East with two treasures hitherto unknown to the Christian world: a Damask rose and a vine of a new grape variety, the ancestor of Chardonnay. Thus began the writing of the Taittinger legend…
Legendary cuvées
Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne cuvées embody the very essence of the House’s style. Whether Blanc de Blancs or, on occasion, Rosé, in exceptional years certain vintages become timeless and enter the legend of the most extraordinary wines Champagne has to offer. The work is truly complete when the champagnes no longer merely delight the palate in harmony with rare emotions, but touch the very soul and leave a lasting impression on one’s memory…
Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Grands Crus
The finest expression of the Taittinger House style , Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs is composed exclusively of Chardonnays from the five ‘Grand Cru’ villages of the Côte des Blancs: Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger.
To bring out the very best in each vineyard, the work is carried out by hand and with respect for the environment. It follows nature’s rhythm. The grapes are harvested only when fully ripe, with the utmost care taken during picking and the subsequent sorting of the bunches. Each terroir is pressed separately to preserve its unique characteristics, ranging from finesse and minerality to power. If the harvest proves to be of exceptional quality and worthy of a vintage designation, then that year will give rise to the Comtes de Champagne. With these great Chardonnays, the jewels of the Champagne terroir, patience is key; the Comtes de Champagne Rosé Grands Crus is thus aged for nearly 10 years in the chalk cellars of Saint-Nicaise before being released to delight the palate.
