Earlier this month, after one-day email sale, we sold several hundred bottles Taittinger's cornerstone "La Francaise" Brut and depleted our stock in the blink of eye. Naturally we scrambled to reload but the pricing had to make sense. Luck was with us, and we have just received a substantial second "miracle" tranche of this obviously popular bottling just in time for a New Year's toast. As we mentioned before, the firm's quality and reputation has been on the rise since the Taittinger family regained managing control of the firm in 2006. "La Francaise" has always been a sure-fire call for those that are seeking a "Goldilocks'" combo of pristine green apple and pear flavors subtly accented with inflections of brioche and citrus.
JAMES SUCKLING 92 POINTS - "Fresh croissants, green apples, grapefruit and light walnuts on the nose of this crisp, balanced Champagne. Medium-bodied, seamless and sleek. 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier. Base wine from 2021 (70%) with 30% reserve wines. 8 g/L dosage. Drink now." -Claire Nesbitt
JOHN GILMAN 91 POINTS - "The current bottling of Taittinger's "Brut La Francaise" shares the same cépages as the Brut Réserve (forty percent chardonnay, thirty-five percent pinot noir and twenty-five percent pinot meunier), with the wine spending one additional year aging on its fine lees prior to disgorgement. The bouquet on the wine is lovely, offering a classy blend of pear, apple, a complex base of limestone soil, bread dough, gently musky, meunier floral tones and a bit of smokiness in the upper register. On the palate the wine is bright, full and zesty, with fine mid-palate depth, youthful acids, frothy mousse and very good length and grip on the still quite primary finish. This has such nice balance that it is eminently drinkable today, but it really is still a puppy and would be happy with a bit of bottle age to allow its secondary layers of complexity to emerge."
WINE SPECTATOR 90 POINTS - "Sleek and mouthwatering, this appealing, aperitif-style Champagne offers flavors of poached quince, preserved lemon, ginger biscuit and oyster shell that ride the fine and creamy mousse. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Drink now. 47,000 cases imported.
WINE ADVOCATE 90 POINTS - "The latest rendition of the NV Brut La Francaise is showing well, evoking aromas of confit citrus, herbs, spring blossoms and pastry. Medium to full-bodied, enveloping and fleshy, it's perfectly balanced, with bright acids and a mouthwatering, delicate finish."
JAMES SUCKLING 92 POINTS - "Fresh croissants, green apples, grapefruit and light walnuts on the nose of this crisp, balanced Champagne. Medium-bodied, seamless and sleek. 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier. Base wine from 2021 (70%) with 30% reserve wines. 8 g/L dosage. Drink now." -Claire Nesbitt
JOHN GILMAN 91 POINTS - "The current bottling of Taittinger's "Brut La Francaise" shares the same cépages as the Brut Réserve (forty percent chardonnay, thirty-five percent pinot noir and twenty-five percent pinot meunier), with the wine spending one additional year aging on its fine lees prior to disgorgement. The bouquet on the wine is lovely, offering a classy blend of pear, apple, a complex base of limestone soil, bread dough, gently musky, meunier floral tones and a bit of smokiness in the upper register. On the palate the wine is bright, full and zesty, with fine mid-palate depth, youthful acids, frothy mousse and very good length and grip on the still quite primary finish. This has such nice balance that it is eminently drinkable today, but it really is still a puppy and would be happy with a bit of bottle age to allow its secondary layers of complexity to emerge."
WINE SPECTATOR 90 POINTS - "Sleek and mouthwatering, this appealing, aperitif-style Champagne offers flavors of poached quince, preserved lemon, ginger biscuit and oyster shell that ride the fine and creamy mousse. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Drink now. 47,000 cases imported.
WINE ADVOCATE 90 POINTS - "The latest rendition of the NV Brut La Francaise is showing well, evoking aromas of confit citrus, herbs, spring blossoms and pastry. Medium to full-bodied, enveloping and fleshy, it's perfectly balanced, with bright acids and a mouthwatering, delicate finish."
