Taittinger Prélude Grands Crus Magnum

Taittinger Prélude Grands Crus Magnum is a non-vintage brut made exclusively from grapes classified Grands Crus, offered here in magnum. A cuvée more taut and more mineral than the Brut Réserve, designed by Maison Taittinger for lovers of finely chiselled champagnes.

The blend brings together equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, from the Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims, the villages ranked at the top of the Champagne cru scale. The wine ages five years in the cellar, clearly longer than the legal minimum, then receives a dosage of 9 g/L. This long maturation on the lees refines the bubble and gives a precise palate, between the liveliness of citrus and a silky roundness. The magnum holds 1.5 litres, the equivalent of two bottles. It is the format enthusiasts prefer: because the volume of air under the cork is proportionally smaller, the wine evolves more slowly and more harmoniously, and gains complexity over time.

Key facts

• Origin: France, Champagne, Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims
• Producer: Champagne Taittinger
• Grapes: Chardonnay 50%, Pinot Noir 50%
• Dosage: Brut, 9 g/L
• Ageing: five years in the cellar
• Size: 150 cl (magnum, 1.5 L)

Tasting notes

• Colour: Pale, bright yellow with silvery highlights
• Nose: Fine and fresh, mineral at first, then floral and slightly green
• Palate: Lively, clean attack on very fresh citrus, silky roundness of white peach, complex and precise finish

Serving and storage

Serve it at around 9 to 10 °C, in a white wine glass, to enjoy its aromatic finesse. In magnum, it can wait several years in the cellar and gain in complexity. The house indicates a cellaring potential of five years or more. Store the bottle lying down, in a cool place away from light.

Food pairing

Its tautness calls for seafood: oysters, a seafood platter, grilled sea bass or seared scallops. It is also perfect as an aperitif, with a few shavings of young Comté or smoked salmon on toast. The magnum is just right alongside a large seafood platter.

Further reading

Read the story of Maison Taittinger. Also discover the different types of champagne and what sets large bottles apart and the difference between Grand Cru and Premier Cru. Find more cuvées in our selection of magnums and large formats and our champagne selection. Discover all of Maison Taittinger in our Taittinger collection.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Grands Crus designation mean in Champagne?

Of the roughly three hundred villages in the appellation, only seventeen are classified Grands Crus, at the top of the cru scale. The Prélude blends only grapes from these villages, which gives it great finesse and a fine ability to age.

Why choose a magnum?

A magnum ages more slowly than a 75 cl bottle, because the volume of air in contact with the wine is proportionally smaller. The champagne keeps its freshness longer and gains in finesse, and the format is ideal for a table of eight to ten people.

Who is Maison Taittinger?

The origins of the house go back to 1734 and the merchant house Forest-Fourneaux, taken over in 1932 by Pierre Taittinger, who gave it his name. Still family-owned and independent, it is led today by Vitalie Taittinger. Its style rests on the generous place given to Chardonnay, a guarantee of finesse and freshness, and its wines age in the Gallo-Roman chalk cellars of Saint-Nicaise, in Reims.

How is the bottle shipped?

Delivery is free in France for orders from €300. Every bottle is carefully packed and sent with tracking.