Champagne and Port Wine Gift
Taittinger Brut Reserve NV Champagne
Tasting Notes
The brilliant body is golden yellow in colour. The bubbles are fine, while the foam is discreet yet lingering. The nose, very open and expressive, delivers aromas of fruit and brioche. It also gives off the fragrance of peach, white flowers (hawthorn, acacia) and vanilla pod. The entry onto the palate is lively, fresh and in total harmony. This is a delicate wine with flavours of fresh fruit and honey. Taittinger Brut Réserve, which acquires its maturity during three and four years ageing in the cellar, offers excellent aromatic potential.
TAITTINGER GREEN MATTERS
Taittinger is under the “authorisation préfectorale”, a French government local representation, which requires it to follow certain environmental procedures. Examples include: industrial waste classed and weighed in by different type, card, wood, glass, plastic, aluminium and taken to recycling plants. Taittinger is also undertaking a number of steps to respect official environmental regulations on water and waste as well as implementing a plan to reduce their environmental impact concerning energy usage, water and waste.
Water – Consumption is closely monitored. This is measured and goals are fixed to reduce it daily through various programmes.
Packaging – Although difficult for Champagne to reduce weight due to the nature of the product being pressurised, consideration is being given to the whole range of packaging in order to reduce the total weight. The whole appellation is working towards a lighter bottle and 80% of the glass comes from a recycled source, for Taittinger it is 94%. Following lighter weight bottle tests, in 2010 Taittinger have been bottling wines in lighter bottles – 835 grammes -7% reduction. A positive move in reducing their carbon footprint. All waste packaging (cardboard, paper, glass and steel from capsules) is recycled
Vineyards – Taittinger are leading the way as a Champagne grower. Typically using half the amount of fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides used by other growers. They wholly own half of their vineyard base producing fruit for their Champagnes giving them control over what is used to treat the soil and vines. 70% of Taittinger vineyards are also planted with grass and this increases year on year, this negates the need for herbicides. The tradition of using horses in the vineyard is still used to manage vegetation growth between the vines. A rare and natural sight in today’s world.
All viticultural by-products are developed or recycled at Taittinger’s expense. Taittinger are also moving to precision viticulture which means each vine can be managed individually if required and an important change has been the move to ‘selection massale’ where the vine stock is coming from our own vineyard source. The trend in the region is to replant hedges around the vineyards – a wide spread practice which encourages the growth of nature’s own pesticides – in their own vineyards, Taittinger reflects this trend.
Quinta do Crasto Finest Reserve Ruby Port
Tasting Note
A fine presence and great balance between fresh wild berries, firm tannins, well balanced acidity and a long and elegant finish.
Food Matching
Great with a strong cheese; try a good English Cheddar.