Apricots, hazelnuts, lemons, white flowers, sliced almonds and hints of licorice on the nose. It's creamy and layered, with soft, rounded bubbles that spread across the palate. Lovely balance of breadth, ripeness and freshness, with delicious wildflower honey and nut notes lingering. 100% grand cru chardonnay from Avize, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Cramant and Chouilly. Drink or hold.

Silky, vertical bubbles with vibrant freshness; it is straightforward and precise. Aromas of brioche with butter and apricot jam, mirabelle plums, anise, clementine, and vineyard peach. Timeless.

Taittinger's Comtes de Champagne shines in 2014. It's a vintage that offered crisp yet open and beautifully defined wines from the grand cru Chardonnays of the Côte des Blancs. This is still primary and youthful, its zesty roasted grapefruit, sweet clementine and pineapple flavours meet juicy white peach and gentle ageing flavours of demerara sugar and toasted brioche. It's a little less intense and dynamic than 2013 but equally fine in its restrained, racy energy. With even a short time on cork the classic toasty Comtes richness will start to emerge.