Taittinger : Comtes de Champagne Rosé 2013

Characteristics and tasting tips for Comtes de Champagne Rosé 2013 Taittinger

Tasting

Color
The color reveals a luminous salmon-pink hue, adorned with coppery highlights, showcasing a fine, creamy and persistent effervescence.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with notes of grapefruit, wild raspberry and iodine. With aeration, it reveals a beautiful complexity with touches of honey, blood orange, salted bread and hazelnut.

Palate
Structured and taut, the palate is built on lovely acidity. The silky texture, carried by a delicate mousse, balances mineral freshness with fruity density. The finish is long and persistent, marked by nuances of ginger, licorice and a mineral salinity.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs harmoniously with seafood such as oysters, lobster or scallops, as well as with fish like grilled mackerel served with roasted cauliflower. It also complements white meats, roasted poultry or pigeon, as well as characterful matured cheeses such as Pont l'Évêque, Maroilles or an aged Comté.

Serving and storage

Boasting remarkable ageing potential, this Comtes de Champagne Rosé 2013 can be enjoyed now or cellared to be drunk until around 2033.

The refined expression of a Champagne wine

The estate

Founded in 1734 under the name Forest-Fourneaux, the house entered its modern era in 1932 when Pierre Taittinger acquired Château de la Marquetterie. Located in Reims, France, this Champagne house is today led by Vitalie Taittinger, President, and her brother Clovis. Independent and family-owned, the Taittinger estate stands out for its commitment to preserving its historic heritage, notably its chalk cellars, and for a philosophy combining tradition with respect for the environment to produce wines of great precision.

The vineyard

The estate spans 288 hectares across 37 plots throughout the terroirs of the Champagne region. The vines dedicated to this cuvée come from five villages classified Grand Cru in the Côte des Blancs for the chardonnay, growing on chalky soils that ensure excellent drainage. The pinot noir comes from old vines in the Montagne de Reims, where the deeper chalk allows for optimal rooting. The vineyard is managed according to sustainable practices, certified Haute Valeur Environnementale and Viticulture Durable en Champagne.

The vintage

The year 2013 began with a cold, snowy winter, followed by a late, cool and rainy spring that delayed the vines' growth cycle by around two weeks. From mid-April, weather conditions changed radically, giving way to warm, dry and very sunny weather. July and August saw remarkable sunshine, allowing the grapes to catch up on lost time. Light rains in early September aided the final ripening before a late harvest that began on October 1st.

Winemaking and aging

The making of the Comtes de Champagne Rosé 2013 involves extended ageing of over ten years in bottle within the historic chalk cellars of Saint-Nicaise. 5% of the blend undergoes three to four months of ageing in new oak barrels, a third of which is renewed each year. In addition, a portion of the pinot noir is vinified as red wine with an extended pre-fermentation maceration to develop structure and aromas.

Grape varieties

Pinot noir (70%, including 12% red wine from Bouzy)
Chardonnay (30%)