2008 Champagne Taittinger, Brut

Taittinger’s 2008 Brut Millesimé is a powerful, bold wine. The intensity of the year has been tempered by lovely mid-palate depth and what feels like dosage that is on the higher end of the spectrum, which means Taittinger’s 2008 is more accessible now than many other 2008. Dried pear, brioche, honey, mint, chamomile and wild flowers blossom into the creamy, inviting finish. There is a lot to like. Although not especially complex, the 2008 should drink well for the next decade or so. And the 2008 Comtes? Well, it is shaping up to be epic.

Drinking window: 2016–2026, 92/100, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com (June 2016)