Pale lemon appearance. Very refined, tightly wound nose. Lemon, stone fruit, flint, great mineral purity. Distinguished with a very specific liveliness and freshness. It has a perfectly integrated acidity that provides it with the ability to age well. Whilst still showing the elegance and sophistication that is the Taittinger style, the vintage offers more weight and body with light nutty characters, excellent concentration and a long, full-flavoured finish,

– Bordeaux Index Fine Wines & Spirits Merchant

Taittinger’s 2008 Brut Millesimé is a powerful, bold wine. The intensity of the year has been tempered by lovely mid-palate depth and what feels like dosage that is on the higher end of the spectrum, which means Taittinger’s 2008 is more accessible now than many other 2008. Dried pear, brioche, honey, mint, chamomile and wild flowers blossom into the creamy, inviting finish. There is a lot to like. Although not especially complex, the 2008 should drink well for the next decade or so. And the 2008 Comtes? Well, it is shaping up to be epic.

The 2008 Millésime Brut is a 50/50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a large percentage of Grand Cru and Premier Cru origins. Fresh and subtle on the pure and mineral nose with its sweet cherry aromas, this is a lean, straight, pure and elegant cuvée with mineral complexity, tension and a persistent finish. An exciting mineral and also fruity 2008 that balances the vintage's acidity with a full body.

All grands and premiers crus. 50% Pinot Noir from Montagne de Reims and Vallée de la Marne, 50% Chardonnay. Aged four years on the lees. Dosage 9 g/l. Tasted blind. Broad nose with a bit more depth [than the 2009 tasted alongside]. Tense and vibrant. Lots of zing and citrus peel. Even lime flavour. (JR)