MAGS Mean MORE: Rarity, Longevity, Value
2004 Taittinger
Comtes de Champagne Rosé Magnums
The Only Magnums in the Country:
with No Upcharge for the Format
Every year, Taittinger's Comtes Rosé is one of our favorite rosé Champagnes; for serious Champagne lovers, this is a must-buy bottle. But today we're not talking about bottles.
We’re talking about MAGNUMS: And these on offer are the only ones in the country.
In any format, Taittinger’s tête de cuvée rosé is one of our favorite rosé Champagnes. Few wines marry, so seamlessly, opulence with rigor. Magnums take it all to another level.
One of the stars of this year's La Paulee was a magnum of 1973 Taittinger Comtes rosé; it was so ethereal and perfumed, Musigny with a delicate touch of bubbles. Although we were in love with this bottle before then, believe me the hunt for more Comtes rosé mags intensified after this experience.
Today though, we can also talk of value.
As for the drinking window, Brad Baker (a.k.a. "The Champagne Warrior") sums it up simply: "Year after year, Comtes is one of the best rosé Champagnes made and the 2004 is another winner. Go out and get a few bottles to drink now, in the mid-term, and a few decades from now. It will be good no matter when you drink it."
True to form, we’ve cracked the 04 a few times in the last year, and the rigor and authority of the vintage are still very present, encircling the unctuous, deep Pinot fruit and lending it fantastic poise. Over the course of a few hours, this just gets better and better - it's a very good sign when the last sip of a wine is the absolute best, making you want to open another bottle and promising that there's a beautiful aging curve ahead of it.
Especially in this format, the 2004 is a rosé that is here for the long haul - if you can stand to not drink it all young. The 71, 73, 76, 79 and 82 are monumental achievements that have stood the test of time (we already spoke of the 1973, above). Mature Comtes rosés combine a Burgundy-like earthiness and complexity with a shocking freshness of fruit - these are undoubtedly among the greatest Champagne drinking experiences out there.
Again, these are the ONLY magnums in the country, and pricing is extremely sharp today for the format. When they’re gone, they’re gone. To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits