($135, Kobrand Wine And Spirits): Taittinger’s top Champagne, Comtes des Champagne is a Blanc de Blancs made from Chardonnay grown exclusively in Grand Cru villages.   While the Comtes des Champagne is always one of the great prestige bottlings from the region, the 2005 is particularly noteworthy because it retains incredible vivacity despite the ripeness of that vintage.  Toasty and deep, it has the concentration and fullness expected from the warm 2005 growing season, but a verve reminiscent of the electricity of the 2004s.  In that regard, it’s the best of both worlds.  Its length reinforces its stature as a great wine.
95 Michael Apstein Dec 23, 2014