Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 2013 (75cl)

Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2013 is a vintage Blanc de Blancs, made only in years when the house judges the Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs good enough. It is 100% Chardonnay from five Grand Cru villages: Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Cramant, Chouilly and Oger. Only first-press juice is used, and around 5% of the blend is aged for several months in young oak barrels. The wine then rests on its lees for ten years in Gallo-Roman chalk galleries beneath Saint-Nicaise Hill before disgorgement. On the nose and palate come tropical fruit, apricot, passion fruit, baked apple tart, mint and yellow flowers, with lemon meringue, brioche and candied ginger. Sleek acidity and a smoky, oyster-shell minerality carry the finish.