Taittinger Nocturne Rose

When Pierre Taittinger acquired the former Abbey of Saint-Nicaise in Reims in 1932, he inherited 4th-century Gallo-Roman chalk crayères that would become the technical backbone of the house — constant temperature and humidity enabling lees aging that far exceeds appellation minimums. The Nocturne Rosé is built on those same foundations. Chalk-rich soils across Montagne de Reims and Les Riceys supply the backbone: deep chalk provides drainage and high natural acidity while imparting the house's signature minerality. The blend runs ~55% Pinot Noir, ~30% Chardonnay, ~15% still red Pinot Noir — the still-wine addition drawn from Montagne de Reims and Les Riceys, giving structure and depth of colour without sacrificing the Chardonnay-led freshness that defines Taittinger's house identity. Only first-pressing juice is used; fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel preserves primary fruit character, and the wine rests a minimum of 3–4 years on lees in the crayères — more than double the legal minimum for non-vintage Champagne. The special feature here is the use of ascorbic acid in the liqueur d'expédition combined with jetting at disgorgement, an antioxidant technique that allows reduced SO₂ while locking in freshness — unusual at this scale. The NV character is driven by the still-wine Pinot component: red berry fruit with chalky tension and a fine, persistent mousse. Drink now through 2028.