Taittinger : Folies de la Marquetterie

The rare NV Folies de la Marquetterie Brut has a clear, fresh and subtle yet intense and super noble bouquet of fresh Pinot Noir fruit (50%) paired with the freshness and finesse of Chardonnay (50%). It is a full-bodied, round, intense and creamy-textured Brut with a serious, persistent structure and the purity, finesse and elegance of Taittinger. The base wines were partly fermented in oak (30%), and malolactic fermentation was not prevented. This beautifully vinous sample was bottled in 2013 and was disgorged in January 2017 with a dosage of nine grams per liter. A great, refined and perfectly balanced Champagne with good length for a still pretty reasonable price. Tasted in November 2017.

A tightly meshed Champagne, crisp and focused, with the lacy, lively mousse carrying flavors of black currant, nectarine, blanched almond and spring forest. Reveals accents of lime blossoms and ground ginger that linger on the creamy finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2028. 50 cases imported.

(55% pinot noir and 45% chardonnay, from a single vineyard in Pierry, due south of Epernay and near Cuis; L1202FC00100): Pale gold. Red berries, rose and orange peel on the fragrant, floral-accented nose and on the palate. Sappy and broad, with very good depth and an energizing note of chalky minerality. Gains weight with air and finishes with excellent breadth, clarity and lingering mineral and honeysuckle notes.

Subtle bouquet with notes of toast. Delicate citrus fruit and notes of green apple and peach. Juicy acidity on the palate, subtle citrus notes here too, fine mousse, long saline finish.

The NV Champagne Folies De La Marquetterie Brut is made with 55% Pinot Noir (notable, given that Taittinger is a Chard house) all coming from the Premiere Cru Pierry (which is around the castle) and the rest Chardonnay. About 30-35% of the Pinot Noir was raised in old oak barrels, with the base vintage of 2017, and 10-20% reserve wine. The wine takes on a savory note and is a bit tropical in its profile, with ripe pineapple, golden fruit, fresh flowers, and a light herbaceous tone. Rounded and full-bodied, with the oak adding a bit of texture over its imprint on the wine, it has a silky, luxurious, ripe profile with a fluffy mousse and a clean, savory finish. Generous and open now, it will provide a solid drinking window over the next 5-8 years. 9 grams per liter dosage. 75,000 bottles produced.

Folies de la Marquetterie NV is a 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay blend of 35 different crus from Taittinger vineyards that includes an older parcel at the original Chateau de la Marquetterie. Based on the 2016 vintage and entirely barrel fermented, with a portion of the reserve wines aging in oak for up to 8 years in barrel to add richness. Very restrained and elegant on the nose with delicate white peach, poached pear, croissant, and vanilla aromas. The medium-bodied palate is well balanced, with stimulating, mineral-laced acidity lifting a toasty, ripe fruit core, with hints of honey on the long finish.

An open palette in a style different from the house’s wines

Using grapes from the Taittinger brand's first vineyard at Château de la Marquetterie, this wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay aged partially in wood. It is rich and beautifully structured, with a sense of ripe fruit as well as the beginnings of maturity. A mineral edge adds to the complexity. Drink now.