Taittinger adds twice the dosage of its Brut Réserve to create Nocturne, which includes grapes from more than 30 crus. Its sweet nose is full of baked apple, brown sugar and pastry cream, yet its lively mousse and green-apple-centred acidity stops it becoming too heavy. Points: 94/100
A fresh and off-dry Champagne with round and easy texture and an easy finish. Medium body. Creamy. Cooked apples and pears. Some candied apple, too. Flavorful finish. Points: 91/100
Medium to full straw colour. The bouquet is elusive but Champagne-like, with iced-pastry nuances, nutty, toasty and showing some age development. There's evidence of some reserve wine in the aged characters. It's only barely off-dry: nothing like a traditional demi-sec style, which is a plus, in my opinion. A quite different, but very attractive, style of Champagne. Despite the dosage it has good balance and tastes drier than some houses' regular NV Champagnes. (40% chardonnay; 60% pinots. 17.5 g/l dosage). Points: 92/100
