Taittinger Cuvee Brut Reserve, Champagne

Fresh croissants, green apples, grapefruit and light walnuts on the nose of this crisp, balanced Champagne. Medium-bodied, seamless and sleek. 40% chardonnay, 35% pinot noir and 25% pinot meunier. Base wine from 2021 (70%) with 30% reserve wines. 8 g/L dosage. Drink now.

92 points jamessuckling.com

The Taittinger Cuvée Brut Réserve is the flagship non-vintage Champagne of this historic Reims-based house, known worldwide for its refined, Chardonnay-driven style. One of the last grandes marques still owned and run by the founding family, Taittinger has built its reputation on finesse and elegance, qualities that are expressed clearly in this wine.

The blend is around 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier, with fruit drawn from over 35 different crus, including a generous share of Grand and Premier Cru sites. Reserve wines, making up as much as 30% of the blend, ensure consistency across vintages. After blending, the wine spends a minimum of three years ageing on its lees in Taittinger’s chalk cellars, developing creaminess and subtle complexity without losing freshness.

In the glass, it is pale gold with a fine, persistent mousse. The bouquet is bright and elegant, showing lemon zest, green apple and white peach alongside brioche, acacia blossom and chalky mineral notes. On the palate it is crisp, silky and well-balanced, with orchard fruit and citrus at the core, lifted by fresh acidity and framed by hints of almond and toast. The finish is long, delicate and refreshing – the epitome of the Taittinger style.

Food pairings are versatile: an ideal aperitif with oysters, caviar or sushi, but equally suited to dishes like roast chicken, scallops, grilled prawns or vegetarian options such as goat’s cheese tart or truffle risotto. While ready to enjoy now, it can also age gracefully for 3 to 5 years, gaining more toasty, honeyed depth.