Today sees the UK release of Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2015, the latest vintage of one of Champagne’s great Chardonnay cuvées.
97/100 Antonio Galloni, Vinous & 95–97/100 Essi Avellan MW
2015 was a warm, dry year in Champagne and Taittinger has produced a particularly interesting Comtes, combining the generosity of the vintage with the freshness and chalky precision of the Côte des Blancs.
Comtes is 100% Chardonnay from five Grand Cru villages — Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger — using only the first pressing. Around 6–8% of the 2015 was aged in oak for 4–6 months before the wine’s long ageing in Taittinger’s Saint-Nicaise chalk cellars.
Galloni calls the 2015 a “real success”, awarding 97/100, while Essi Avellan MW rates it 95–97/100, describing it as “one of the purest expressions of the year”, highlighting its citrus purity, fine toastiness and dry, saline, chalky-mineral finish.
Comtes has a remarkable ability to perform in warmer vintages — the superb 2006 is a good example. I suspect 2015 may follow a similar path: more generous and approachable than the classically structured 2013, but with enough freshness and structure to develop very well in bottle.
As always with young Comtes, patience should be rewarded. Another 5–10 years will bring more of the toast, creaminess and complexity that makes mature Comtes so compelling.
Critics Scores & Tasting Notes:
97/100 Antonio Galloni Vinous.com May 2026
“The 2015 Comtes de Champagne is delicate, airy and wonderfully expressive. Lemon peel, white flowers, chalk, mint and slate are finely sculpted in the glass. Light on its feet and crystalline, the 2015 is terrific. There’s a touch of savoriness that is typical of the year, but it is not dominant or overpowering. At present, the 2015 shows a bit of tightness from its recent disgorgement, but that should not be an issue in time. Comtes is a real success in a year that was quite challenging. Dosage is 9 grams per liter. Disgorged: July 2025.”
95-97/100 Essi Avellan MW essiavellan.com July 2026
“This Comtes de Champagne 2015 emerges from a vintage of severe growing-season contrasts, where drought conditions tempered the progression of phenolic maturity. Yet, through understanding the maturation conditions and rigorous selection from the five Chardonnay grands crus (Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger), Taittinger has shaped a cuvée of fine aromatic clarity—one of the purest expressions of the year. The nose is immediately captivating, defined by luminous citrus tones: lemon confit and freshly grated lime zest unfold with precision. A fine thread of reductive energy lends a subtle “firework” character, complemented by refined toastiness that never intrudes upon the wine’s crystalline fruit. A small amount (6–8%) of the wine, having been aged in oak barrels for 4–6 months, further contributes to the aromatic and textural deliciousness. On the palate, it offers an open-knit texture balanced by a fine phenolic grip. The structure carries through to a dry (8–9 g/l dosage), saline finish, leaving a lingering impression of chalky-mineral tension. This is a Comtes that harmonizes immediate charm with the composure required for longevity.”
