The 2006 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs is a Champagne blend from the prestigious Taittinger house, produced in the Champagne region of France. This vintage, now over a decade old, has garnered significant acclaim from professional reviewers, reflecting its quality and elegance.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded this wine a score of 96, highlighting its "beautiful golden-citrus color" and "fascinating intense, floral, slightly reductive nose." The wine's bouquet features "lemon and lemon confit aromas" along with "flinty notes of crushed chalk and the iodine flavors of the Atlantic Ocean." The publication describes the palate as "terribly fresh but also rich, lush and intense," with an impeccable balance and high tension, suggesting that the wine still has potential for further development.
Wine Spectator gave the 2006 Comtes de Champagne a score of 94, describing it as a "vivacious Champagne, with fine integration of the racy acidity and chalky bead." The review notes flavors of "glazed apricot, ground anise, biscuit and passion fruit," and praises its "firm, focused finish." They recommend drinking it now through 2030.
Vinous was particularly enthusiastic, rating it at 98. Antonio Galloni called it "every bit as racy and seductive as it has always been," noting it as a "great, great vintage for Comtes."
Wine Enthusiast, with a score of 95, describes the wine as "elegant and very stylish," emphasizing its "toast and a soft texture combined with great complexity." This review also notes that the wine is poised and ready to drink but has the potential to age further, suggesting consumption until 2022.
James Suckling also rated it 96, highlighting its "freshness that really appeals" and "Taittinger's signature toasty layer of autolysis, grilled nuts and praline." He describes the palate as having "plenty of flesh and weight," with a finish that is "long, powerful and fine."
Decanter awarded it 95, noting the challenging weather conditions of the vintage year and praising the resulting wine's "softly rich and lush" character. The review mentions "ripe apple fruit, a hint of buttered toast and a firm mineral underpinning," with the potential for aging between 2022 and 2040.
Finally, John Gilman from View From The Cellar gave it a 97, describing the wine as "absolutely stunning" and one of the greatest from the vintage. His detailed review mentions "beautifully floral" aromas transitioning to fruit tones of "Meyer lemon, pear, hazelnut, sourdough bread, chalky minerality, caraway seed and orange zest," with a balanced palate and a "very, very long, complex finish."
In summary, the 2006 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs is a highly acclaimed wine, praised for its complexity, balance, and potential for aging. Its rich flavors and elegant profile make it a standout choice for Champagne enthusiasts.