Taittinger Brut Reserve NV

Made by Taittinger in France (region: Champagne) .

A dry, sparkling, white wine with 12% alcohol tasted on 14th Feb 2008.

Grape: Chardonnay Pinot Noir Pinot Meunier

Quality: Very Good

Value: Ouch!

Cost: Usually between $72.99 - $89.99.

Looks: Very pale gold, with some slight green. Big mousse, good small stream of bubbles. Light looking body.

Smells: Bready and yeasty with some grapefruit tones

Feels: Light with a light bead - although not as light as some

Tastes: A bit strange this one. I really like the grapefruit tones in this wine - acidic and fresh, giving a good lift. The yeasty bready tones are good too - very headstrong flavours. But the two together in this wine leave a slight hole in the middle to me. Harsh words, beacuse this is really pleasant drinking. Good length, refined. But not top drawer.

Possible retailers: Vintage Cellars, Dan Murphy's, Kemeny's.