Champagne Taittinger Les Folies de la Marquetterie NV
Champagne, FranceThis cuvée is produced mostly from grapes grown at Les Folies, at Château de la Marquetterie, Taittinger's historic vineyard and the origin of the family in Pierry, just outside of Épernay. It used to be a single vineyard, but now includes PN from Hautvilliers, and Chardonnay from Trépail, all estate. This cuvée blends first pressing 55% pinot noir with 45% chardonnay, with 30% barrel fermentation in old foudre for 6 months. This 2017 base was disgorged in early 2022, with 8 g/L. Ripe red apple, rich brioche, liquorice and toast rule this muscular champagne (for Taittinger, at least), through a riffing, stony finish.Tasted: 28 November 2024Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne Taittinger Les Folies de la Marquetterie NV
Champagne, FranceThe acquisition of Château de la Marquetterie and the surrounding vineyards, a site known as Les Folies, marked the beginning of the Taittinger family’s Champagne adventure. Long before that, Marquetterie was a site for village fairs where philosophers and intellectuals of the Enlightenment would gather. Today, Folies de la Marquetterie celebrates its rich history with a similarly rich 45/55 chardonnay and pinot noir blend, sourced exclusively from the estate vineyards that now include more than 35 crus. There is also partial barrel fermentation in large, old oak casks, leaving elegant but ample palate-pitching pears coated in sea salt and citrus. In essence, it is an iconic single vineyard, single vintage wine. Described as a terroir wine, its structure and power lead me to the dinner table and flavourful fish or meat entrees.Tasted: 24 October 2023Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne Taittinger Les Folies de la Marquetterie NV
Champagne, FranceThis cuvée is produced mostly from grapes grown at Les Folies, at Château de la Marquetterie, Taittinger's historic vineyard and the origin of the family in Pierry, just outside of Épernay. It used to be a single vineyard, but now includes PN from Verzenay, and Chardonnay from Trépail, all estate. This cuvée blends first pressing 55% pinot noir with 45% chardonnay, with partial barrel fermentation (approximately 30%) in large, old oak casks. Deeper yellow hue, with ample expansiveness on the palate, this is quite elegant, with burnished pear, lightly smoked white cherry, lemon running along the long, saline finish. Single vintage (probably 2015) but not mentioned on the label. Stands apart for Taittinger, with the primarily single estate, and oak influence.Tasted: 24 October 2023Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne Taittinger Les Folies de la Marquetterie NV
Champagne, FranceThe acquisition of Château de la Marquetterie and the surrounding vineyards, a site known as Les Folies, marked the beginning of the Taittinger family’s Champagne adventure. Long before that, Marquetterie played host to several historical moments, including a one-time residency of writer Jacques Cazotte, author of the French classic Le Diable Amoureux. It was a site for village fairs where philosophers and intellectuals of the Enlightenment would gather. General Castelnau also used the stately home as his headquarters during the Battle of Champagne in 1915. Much earlier, in the 17th century, Brother Oudart, a Benedictine Monk, discovered some of the secrets of champagne fermentation. Today, Folies de la Marquetterie celebrates its rich history with a similarly rich 45/55 blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, sourced exclusively from the estate vineyards that now include more than 35 different crus. A portion of the wine gets some wood contact before spending 60 months in the bottle underground. The colour is on the light yellow side, but the bubbles are Taittinger refined and delicate. It’s as fruity as Champagne can get, but it's more a pleasant diversion of peach and apricot, with a round, smooth finish. Described as a terroir wine, its structure and power lead me to the dinner table, and to flavourful fish or meat entrees.Tasted: 03 November 2022Tasted by: Prices:
Champagne Taittinger Les Folies de la Marquetterie NV
Champagne, FranceThis single-vineyard cuvée is produced exclusively from grapes grown at Les Folies, at Château de la Marquetterie, Taittinger's historic vineyard and the origin of the family in Pierry, just outside of Epernay. The 1er Cru Les Folies gently slopes with a south/southwest exposure, and this cuvée blends first pressing 55% pinot noir with 45% chardonnay. Fermented by plot, with partial barrel fermentation (approximately 30%) in large, old oak casks. Once transferred to bottle, this remained for five years on lees prior to disgorge with 9 g/L. The chardonnay in this is immediately apparent, with a savoury, smouldering salinity that makes this unmistakable. Layers of burnished lemon, green apple, flake sea salts atop a base of stones, meringue, and toast on the medium+ palate, lingering with a potent salinity. Quite a characterful wine.Tasted: 26 October 2021Tasted by: Prices: