Originally known as Forest-Fourneaux with history dating back to 1734 and in 1932 Pierre Taittinger bought the House and the Taittinger label was born. A century of incredible growth saw Taittinger become one of the biggest producers and today is one of the last big independent, family-owned Houses. Pierre-Emmanuel retired in 2019 and was succeeded as President by his daughter Vitalie. They own 288-hectares of vineyards and the Taittinger style is the high percentage of Chardonnay. In 2017 Taittinger received two environmental accreditations: the ‘Viticulture Durable en Champagne’ (Sustainable vine-growing in Champagne) and the Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE – High environmental sustainability.)
This is a new blend of Taittinger Rose launched with the dominant year of 2019 vintage in mid 2023. Alexandre Ponnavoy took over as chef de cave in 2017 and during the vins clairs blending season observed the diversity in the red wines. Eight years of trials later and he identified these reliable parcels of Pinot Noir giving ripeness in the grapes suitable for red wine:
Ambonnay four parcels: La Bouteille, Le travers des Avès, Saint Remy and La Grande Ruelle
Verzennay one parcel: Les Rochelles
Hautvillers a special “lieu dit” Les Bissmarlettes
Les Riceys one parcel: Les Eglanceaux, planted pre 1970
A new rose was born, more gastronomic where you can feel the impact of the red wines, giving fresh red berry fruit and a touch of tannin. The red wine percentage is now reduced and only from the vintage of the dominant year in the non-vintage blend. During the eight years trial much work was done on making the red wine with this being the eventual process: cold maceration of grapes for 4 to 5 days before the alcoholic fermentation to extract a maximum of fruit, colour and the DNA of each terroir, followed by 10-15 days further maceration during fermentation. Alexandre says they test the tank 5-6 times a day to determine the precise "drawing off time." During the process much is done to ensure supple tannins, the wines always complete MLF. Alexandre says if they wanted to make a Coteaux Champenois they have the right wines, but rose is given the priority.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand & Premier Cru | 50% Taittinger Estate | Over 35 Crus
Grape Varieties: 30% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 25% Meunier
Disgorged: March 2023
Base Vintage: 2019
Reserve Wines: 30%
Red Wine: 14%
Dosage: 9 g/l
Tasting Note: Renowned for its bright pink colour with a consistent and fine lingering mousse. The nose is light and delicate with hints of peach and lemon with underlying hints of raspberry and redcurrant from the red wine contribution to the champagne. On the palate it has considerable depth, yet is quite light in style with a subtle elegance and a long fresh finish. A great non-vintage brut rose.
Watch Essi Avellan MW & Nick's video tasting review of this champagne
here.
With history dating back to 1734, Champagne Taittinger is the third oldest House in the region. When Pierre Taittinger purchased Forest-Fourneaux in 1932, the label was officially born and a century of incredible growth saw Taittinger become one of the biggest producers and one of the last big independent, family-owned Houses. This changed briefly after a takeover in 2005, however the House was bought back into the family in 2006 by Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger. Today, the brand has been successfully refreshed with entrepreneurial spirit and is firmly under family control: Pierre-Emmanuel retired in 2019 and was succeeded as President by his daughter Vitalie, supported by her brother Clovis who was promoted to Managing Director primarily focusing on global sales.
The proud owners of 288-hectares of vineyards in the best localities, Taittinger self-supply half of their grape needs. The hallmark of the Taittinger style is the high percentage of Chardonnay, providing the characteristic elegance, delicacy and freshness for which their champagnes are so well-known. The pride of the House is the pure-Chardonnay prestige cuvée Comtes de Champagne, a pioneering blanc de blancs that ranks amongst the finest of all prestige cuvées. In late 2015, Tatittinger announced that they had started sparkling wine production in Southern England.
In 2017 Taittinger received two environmental accreditations : the ‘Viticulture Durable en Champagne’ (Sustainable vine-growing in Champagne) and the Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE – High environmental sustainability.)
Chef de Cave History at Champagne Taittinger:
Alexandre Ponnavoy Taittinger Cellar Master 2017 to current
Born in 1979 in the region of Dijon, he decided to come to Reims following his MA in Agronomy at the Jules Guyot Institute (University of Burgundy) and ENITA Dijon. He graduated with a Master’s degree in Oenology-Champagne Wines majoring in Quality, Marketing, Legislation and Management. Taking advantage of his educational background he joined a Champagne House in Reims, for which he went to vinify wines in California. From 2007 to 2015, he worked at the Champagne Technological Station as a consulting oenologist. He advised more than 150 wine estates, merchants and cooperators in Champagne (but also in the rest of France and abroad) and accompanied them through the development and marketing of their sparkling wines.
In April 2015, Ponnavoy joined Champagne Taittinger to work alongside Loïc Dupont, immersing himself in the house's philosophy and techniques . After a few years of collaboration, he assumed the role of Chef de Cave in 2017. Ponnavoy brings a more technical and modern approach, with a background in both oenology and viticulture. A mission to uphold the house's style while introducing greater precision and freshness. Continued emphasis on Chardonnay and long lees ageing for top cuvées. Ponnavoy's work is already evident in newer vintages of Comtes and the refinement of the Brut Réserve and Prestige Rosé.
Under Ponnavoy's leadership, Taittinger has reinforced its commitment to sustainable viticulture. The vineyards are managed without herbicides, and practices such as cover cropping and mechanical weeding are employed to promote environmental health and grape quality. Beyond his work in Champagne, Ponnavoy is instrumental in Taittinger's English venture, Domaine Evremond, located in Kent. He applies his expertise to craft English sparkling wines that reflect the same dedication to quality and style as their French counterparts.
Loïc Dupont Taittinger Cellar Master 2000 to 2017
Coming from a long-standing Reims family, Loïc Dupont was influenced, from a very young age, by his apprenticeship in the vineyard and wine on the farm of one of his uncles, a harvester-manipulator in Vertus. He chose to complete his training by joining the Reims oenology school, which awarded him his diploma in 1978.
After two jobs, one abroad in a sparkling wine region, he joined Champagne Taittinger in 1984 alongside the Cellar Master Maurice Morlot. There he learned his trade and, above all, the Taittinger style. From 1987 to 1992, he actively participated in the launch of Domaine Carneros a winery created by Champagne Taittinger and Kobrand in the south end of Napa Valley. In 2000, he took up the position of Cellar Master of Maison Taittinger, taking over from Maurice Morlot. His legacy; he is very much the one who fine tuned the Maison style, there was never a weak wine under his tenure, everything was made with a very high level of consistency. Loic also brought that trademark “freshness” to Comtes de Champagne, masterful use of ascorbic acid also known as vitamin C in the right mix acts as an antioxidant.