29 May 2020
Champagne Friday with Taittinger Prélude
Today we celebrated Champagne Friday with Taittinger Prélude.
It is with mixed emotions that we are celebrating Champagne Friday. Today we have a lot to celebrate as we have just announced that Stannary Wine has bought wine importer Domaine Direct, which is a huge moment for us as a company and makes our future even more exciting. We started ‘Champagne Friday’ on Friday the 21st of February. The concept of Champagne Friday was a way of bringing some friendly fun into the office and share it with our customers. Today I really miss celebrating with colleagues in person and I miss catching up with friends.
The idea behind Champagne Friday is that we look for a Champagne that we would like to drink now. In normal circumstances, we taste a lot of different wines and champagnes (lucky us!), and we choose our favourite bottle to share with colleagues and write together a tasting note and offer. As COVID arrived in the UK and lockdown happened, we nearly stopped Champagne Friday, but in the spirit of ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’, we decided to continue. Obviously, we are not currently tasting the broad range of wines that we usually do. Prélude was created in the 1990s to celebrate the new millennium. Celebrating Prélude’s 20th anniversary this year, yesterday Taittinger have for the first time released magnums, making it a logical choice for our Champagne Friday.
Taittinger is the first Champagne that we offered as part of Champagne Friday. Unusually for a Grande Marque house, it is still a family-owned champagne house. The House dates back to 1734 and became known as Taittinger in 1931 when Pierre Taittinger acquired the House. Taittinger Prélude is an NV Cuvee made with an equal blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and aged for five years on lees. All the fruit comes from Grand Cru vineyards; the Chardonnay comes from the Côte de Blancs and the Pinot Noir from Montagne de Reims.
I tasted the Champagne in our garden at home and I have to say, Prélude is a real afternoon in the garden champagne… Like last month, I put five glasses on the table; one for myself and one for each of my colleagues. I look forward to the day that we can celebrate Champagne Friday as we were meant to do. For the eagle-eyed among you, there is indeed one Zalto flute on the table. I prefer to taste (and drink) champagne from a Universal or white wine glass, but I know Tom is rather keen on his Zaltos, so it was included for him.
The aim with Champagne Friday is that the Champagne should have arrived in a customer’s reserve by the next month and so we share our experiences through an ongoing journey. As we are still in lockdown with perhaps less need for magnums, we have also decided to offer bottles this month. It remains strange thinking in those terms (especially as I adore large formats). Anyway, my tasting note is below and please do get in touch with us if you would like a case.
‘Tasted from bottle. There is a wonderful golden colour with a vibrant fizz made with tiny bubbles. When it opens up, the nose is attractive with lemon curd, honeycomb and elderflower. Light-bodied on the palate but with real finesse. The 9gr/l RS is very well integrated and balanced by the fresh acidity and unnoticeable. This is not a full-bodied champagne, but I like how pretty it is. Perfect for summer evenings (or afternoons) in the garden at present. Yet there is substance, and it would be interesting to see how it will change with a few extra years in the bottle’
by Sara Guiducci, Head of Private Sales, Stannary Wine
Taittinger Prélude NV is available @ £195 per 6 bottle case in bond
Magnums @ £235 per 3 magnum case in bond