Perfect Mother's Day Gift

Champagne Taittinger has long been one of our favourite houses at the Wine Shop in Leek, and I never fail to be impressed when I taste through the range of styles available in the UK market.

We clearly can't list every one of the champagnes (though in an ideal world I most certainly would!) so it's the popular non vintage, rosé and vintage that typically get the shelf space.

Earlier this week, in Manchester, however, I could resist the lure of the Prelude no longer...



Champagne Taittinger's origins date back to the original house founded in 1734 but ownership by the Taittinger family began in 1931. Remaining in the family ever since, it is now owned and managed by Pieere Emanuel Taittinger, son Clovis and daughter Vitalie. Owning 288 hectares of the best sites in Champagne, the most famous are those surrounding the Chateau de la Marquetterie.













Situated in Reims, the magnificent 4th century Roman cellars once belonged to the Benedictine monks of the abbey of St Nicaise.

Taittinger welcome visitors daily to the cellars, where you may be lucky enough to spot a remueur at work...

Traditionally the remueur would carry out all the 'remuage' by hand...that is the daily ritual of slowing turning the bottles in the racks (or pupitres) so that the sediment slides down the bottle of the neck and rests on the cork.

These days, machines called giropallettes do the job, but at Taittinger the Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs and Rosé are still done by hand, like this.

So, my recommendation for Mother's Day...

Taittinger Prelude Grand Crus is a champagne I've tasted many times, always loved but never had the confidence to list, simply for the fact that it's not easily pigeonholed. However, it simply tasted so fantastic this week, had such gorgeous mouthfeel, and just looked so great in its gift box, that I bit the bullet and ordered some stock for the weekend.

Grand Crus are the words to note here...

Grand Crus come exclusively from grapes grown in the 100% rated vineyards of champange. There are 17 of them and they cover only 14% of the vineyard's total area. 50% of this blend is Chardonnay from the Cote de Blancs (Avize and Le Mesnil sur Oger vineyards) and 50% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims area (Bouzy and Ambonnay vineyards).

Further to that, this is made from the first pressing (so the very best and finest juice), 25% of reserve wines are added (from the best vintages) and it spends a minimum of four years on it lees in those fabulous cellars you can see above.

Unlike the rest of the Taittinger range, this has a greater proportion of Pinot Noir which gives it much more structure, richness and that lovely, creamy, weighty mouthfeel I mentioned earlier.

'The nose is subtle and fresh. The initial mineral aromas quickly develop into green, floral scents with hints of elderflower and spicy cinnamon overtones.

Flavours are dominated by intense fresh citrus fruit which then give way to a much fuller, well-bodied and mellow taste with flavours reminiscent of white peaches in syrup.

The finish is long, rich and extremely expressive.'

So read the winemaker's comments, rather more eloquently than anything I could say, but I wouldn't quote them here if I didn't agree!

This really is a secret gem from Taittinger. You're highly unlikely to find it anywhere other than decent indie wine shops...

Treat that champagne-loving Mum this Sunday

Léonie

(champagne-loving Mum)

PS...the price!

£41.99 on the shelf but if you are a member of our Wine Club £39.99.