Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut, 2015
Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut, 2015
- 75cl
- 12.5%
- White Sparkling
- Chardonnay
Couldn't load pickup availability
Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2045
Est delivery in Winter, 2026/2027
Comtes de Champagne is Taittinger's flagship and, frankly, one of the great arguments for why Chardonnay rules Champagne. Made entirely from Grand Cru Côte des Blancs fruit; Avize, Cramant, Oger, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and aged for a minimum of five years on lees, the 2015 vintage brings an unusual ripeness to a wine that normally defines itself through precision and restraint. Presented in elegant antique-style bottles, it’s one of the most iconic Blanc de Blancs in Champagne.
Taittinger itself has a long backstory. Founded in 1734, it was taken on by Pierre Taittinger in 1931 after his WWI service in the region, and unusually for a big name, it’s still family-run today by Pierre’s great-grandchildren, Vitalie and Clovis. The cellars in Reims sit on 4th-century chalk caves that once belonged to Benedictine monks, and the deep cool conditions are spot-on for ageing Champagne slowly and gracefully.
What the critics say:
"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."
Comtes de Champagne draws exclusively from grand cru villages along the Côte des Blancs, where the soils are almost pure Belemnite chalk — the fossilised remains of ancient marine organisms that drain freely, force vine roots deep, and lend wines a distinctive saline, mineral edge. The chalk also acts as a natural moisture reservoir, giving vines resilience in warm, dry years like 2015. The south-to-southeast exposures maximise ripening while the altitude and chalk subsoil preserve freshness and acidity, the twin pillars on which every great blanc de blancs is built.
Champagne is the world's most tightly regulated sparkling wine appellation, confined to a specific chalk belt northeast of Paris with a cool continental climate that sits at the outer limit of viable viticulture. Only three main grapes are permitted — Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier — and production methods are precisely governed, from minimum lees ageing to permitted disgorgement practices. Grand cru villages carry the appellation's highest classification, awarded to just 17 communes, all of which must score 100 on the historic échelle des crus quality scale. Blanc de Blancs designates a wine made exclusively from white grapes — here, Chardonnay alone — a style that prizes elegance and longevity over the body and structure that Pinot Noir brings.
The 2015 growing season in Champagne started with a scorching summer that had everyone fretting about ripeness levels, before September delivered the kind of gentle, drawn-out harvest conditions that dreams are made of. The early heat meant picking began in late August for some houses, but crucially the weather stayed dry and cool enough through September to allow patient producers to wait for perfect phenolic ripeness. What could have been a vintage of jammy, over-ripe fruit instead became something far more interesting.
We find 2015 Champagnes showing remarkable depth and richness whilst keeping their essential freshness intact. The Chardonnay particularly shines here, with a texture and weight that speaks to the warm summer but maintains that mineral backbone Champagne demands. Pinot Noir delivered generous fruit without losing structure, and the best cuvées have a density that sets them apart from lighter recent vintages. Most are drinking superbly now and will continue to develop until 2030, though the finest prestige bottlings will reward patience well beyond that.
Explore related wines
-
-
Speak to one of our Wine Gurus
Speak to a Wine GuruWith years of experience, our team can help you with all your wine buying and selling needs