Champagne, FranceSweet Champagne is a niche market, but Nocturne has made the jump to nightclubs to stay relevant with a younger set, although ironically, its new classic white label seems more at home in a drawing room than a club setting, but what do we know? Nocturne starts life on the same path as the multi-vintage Brut, a 40/60 chardonnay / pinot noir with pinot meunier, before it aged an extra year on the lees to settle in before release. The dosage is modest for a Sec, at 17.5 g/L, but just right for those looking for a softer, off-dry bubble to sip on. We like the crisper mid-palate that lends enough balance to keep it from cloying. A good one for beginners.Tasted: 24 October 2023Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne, FranceNocturne is nightclub champagne, though no longer jazzed up with a fancy bling packaging. Nocturne uses the same base as Taittinger's NV (40% chardonnay and 60% blend of the pinots noir and meunier) but gets one additional year on the lees before release which makes for a good partner with the higher sugar cane dosage (17.5 g/L) to appeal to the late-night crowd. As far as Sec (off-dry) champagnes go, this is at the bottom of the sweet scale, with cushy, doughy biscuit, and grippy apple texture to the ripe red apple, lemon, and subtle toast on the core. Super friendly and easy drinking, most newbie Champagne drinkers will love this and probably not even notice the dosage.Tasted: 24 October 2023Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne, FranceNocturne is nightclub champagne, jazzed up with a fancy packaging (my bottle is deemed City Lights) and a higher dosage (17.5 g/L) to appeal to the late-night crowd. This cuvée uses the same base as Taittinger's NV (40% chardonnay and 60% blend of the pinots noir and meunier) but gets one additional year on the lees before release which makes for a good partner with the higher sugar cane dosage. As far as Sec (off-dry) champagnes go, this is at the bottom of the sweet scale, so if you're looking for a noticeably sweet champers, this is not it. What this is, is smoothed out, with champagne's edges rounded off with the dosage, bound by red apple, ripe pear, and lightly toasted brioche. The sugar also helps this go down a bit too easy, so prepare the dance the night away.Tasted: 03 November 2022Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne, FranceNocturne is nightclub champagne, jazzed up with a fancy packaging (my bottle is deemed City Lights) and a higher dosage (17.5 g/L) to appeal to the late-night demographic. This cuvée uses the same base as Taittinger's NV (40% chardonnay and 60% blend of the pinots noir and meunier) but gets one additional year on the lees before release which makes for a good partner with the higher sugar cane dosage. As far as Sec (off-dry) champagnes go, this is at the bottom of the sweet scale, so expect that dosage to feel slight, especially up against the toasty autolysis and tight lemon peel driving this wine. Red apple, pear, buttery toasted brioche is seasoned with gingery spices running the length of the smooth palate.Tasted: 23 November 2021Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne, FranceSweet champagne is a small market, but it has its place. Nocturne follows the Taittinger Brut formula but gets a much higher dosage of sugar at 17.5 g/l plus another twelve months on the lees in bottle. The additional bottle development is the key to settling the sweetness factor into the wine, as opposed to on it. It is still on the Sec scale, as it's modestly sweet. The fruit is a mix of ripe pear and ginger spices with low acidity, translating it into a smooth sipping nightclub bubble, or one that you could serve with spicy sushi rolls. Open, drink, and have fun.Tasted: 24 September 2019Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne, FranceNocturne uses the same base as Taitt's NV, but sees a higher dosage (17.5 g/l) and one additional year on the lees. The additional bottle development is a good partner with the higher dosage. That said, this is on the very light end of the Sec spectrum. Punchy, potent in the mouth with some pear kissed sweetness and sweet toasted ginger spices on the finish. The name suggests what time to drink this wine; it is nightclub ready, and designed for when you may want to reduce the acidity of the wine and up the smashability factor. Instead of pairing with nightclubs, you can also partner this with a fine tuna belly sashimi.Tasted: 15 October 2018Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne, FranceBright pear, sweet apple, apple blossom, are lifted with green apple and pithy lemon in this late night-apropos Champagne. Categorized Sec, this chardonnay/pinot noir/pinot meunier was coursed from thirty different vineyards, spent four years on the lees and has a dosage of 17.5 g/l. Even with all its richness, this smooth and mellow fizz has a swell of acidity to counter. Ginger ale lingers on the finish.Tasted: 08 December 2016Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne, FranceFrom the sweet side at 20g/l of sugar at dosage look for a fragrant, toasted, baked apple nose with a commensurate amount of minerality. Full bodied with good acidity balance and more complex notes of spice, brioche, citrus and cherry flavours. East to drink with a little less austerity on the palate. Think foie gras or desserts.Tasted: 20 May 2011Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne, FranceFine, continuous mousse. Nutty, toasty, baked apple, floral, pear, slightly waxy nose. Fresh, round, crisp, full bodied style with good acidity balance and a bit of sweetness. Baked apple, pear, and toasty, nutty, brioche, mineral, citrus and cherry flavours. Very solid fruit core and balance, not too austere nor too sweet. Great drinking now.Tasted: 15 September 2007Tasted by: Prices: