A tasting at Grand Champagne Helsinki with Clovis Taittinger and Essi Avellan MW reveals interesting aspects on the development of champagne in different bottle size. Big is beautiful but bigger is more beautiful. Apart form this,  we have different preferences when comes to wine as too many other aspect of our lives.

As general rule: In bigger bottles wine develops slower. The bigger the dimension of the bottle the smaller the quantity of oxygen penetrates through its neck.  The fermentation process is slower and the result is more texture and complexity in the wine. Removing the sediment from the bottle is done later giving the wine time to integrate aromas and develop more intensity

NV Taittinger Brut Resérve– elegant, light, well balanced , easy to drink. A delicate wine with flavours of fresh fruit, brioche and honey. In standard bottle is more fresh and energetic while in magnum is more developed, more round and gentle. Some like the young one, I prefer the softer version in magnum.

2013 Taittinger Cuvée Brut Millésimé is  created only in years of outstanding quality. It needs several years of maturing in the cellars to  slowly develop the wine’s complexity and long-lasting character. In standard bottle is round and spicy, perfect to be drunk now while in magnum still need patience to built complex layers of aromas.  2013 was an excellent and classy harvest.

2007  Taittinger Comtes de Champagne  Blanc de Blancs  is a  classic top wine from the Champagne region and  the finest example of the Taittinger House style. It is made with 100% Chardonnay grapes from the 5 villages with a Grands Crus classification.

In standard bottle is absolutely fresh, fine, salty, spicy, mineral, mature, round, complex. Im magnum is similar with less evolution and spiciness.  I like standard bottle to drink now and magnum to keep some years more. Read more about magnum in OPiA article about Ruinart in magnum. 

“I believe that the mission of champagne is to make people beautiful, to give happiness and to spread love!” Clovis Taittinger
Champagne is a perception, an emotion and experience. Drink it to enjoy life, for pleasure and love.

With love and effervescence,
Olimpia Pleșa Brandhuber

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