Taittinger Champagne Brut Prestige

Champagne Taittinger builds Brut Prestige with a high proportion of Chardonnay, filled out with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, a blend that gives the house its fresh, elegant signature. It is made by the traditional method, the second fermentation carried out in the sealed bottle, after which the wine spends a long maturation on its fine lees in the chalk cellars beneath Reims. That autolytic ageing builds the creamy texture and the toasted, nutty depth that sit beneath the fruit, while reserve wines keep the blend consistent. The dosage is set at a classic brut level, so the wine finishes dry and balanced.

The colour is pale golden yellow with a fine, persistent bead. The nose leads with white peach and apple with a twist of citrus peel over white flowers, deepening into toasted bread, biscuit and hazelnut. The palate is fresh and creamy, ripe fruit balanced by clean acidity and a fine mineral edge, closing long. Serve well chilled at 8 to 10 degrees in a white wine glass to let it open. It makes a fine aperitif and suits oysters, white fish and aged hard cheeses.