The Enigmatic Taittinger Nocturne: Styles, Taste, Critical Acclaim

Taittinger is an eminent Champagne house established by Pierre Taittinger in 1932 in Reims and is famous for its wide range of exotic Champagnes.

The Taittinger Nocturne sparkling wine is inspired by the ethereal beauty of the night and was initially called ‘City Lights.’ It would make the perfect bottle of Champagne for your late-night shindig! Let’s explore the two Taittinger nocturne styles, taste, food pairings, and what critics have to say about the wine.

Taittinger Nocturne Champagne Styles (Tasting Notes, Prices)

Nocturne wines are off-dry sparkling wines, known as sec Champagne, containing 17-32 g/l residual sugar. 

What’s unique is their slow cellar-ageing and the fact that the grapes are sourced from over 30 different vineyards.

Taittinger Nocturne wine comes in two styles:

1. Taittinger Nocturne Sec

Taittinger Nocturne is a moderately sweet and flavorful Champagne, perfect for late evening indulgence. 

• Blend: This Taittinger Nocturne is made from 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, and 30% Pinot Meunier.
• Appearance: Shimmering highlights give this pale yellow wine a touch of elegance. The bubbles form a delicate ring of mousse.
• Aroma: The fine wine has a fresh nose with aromas of white flowers, dried apricot, and yellow peach. 
• Tasting notes: The entry is smooth and creamy. The refreshing palate has sublime flavors of raisin, toasted brioche, apricot, vanilla, and fruits in syrup and silky tannins.

The long finish has sweetness from ripe fruit and hints of chalky minerality. 

• Alcohol content: This Nocturne wine has a 12.5% ABV.
• Winemaking: This non vintage wine is a blend of perfectly ripened grapes sourced from over 30 different crus. The wine is aged in the bottle for a minimum of four years. Thereafter, it receives a sugar cane dosage of 17.5 g/l before disgorgement.
• Price: The average price of a Nocturne Sec bottle is $55.

2. Taittinger Nocturne Rose Sec

Nocturne Rose sparkling wine reflects Taittinger’s prestigious rose style - a perfect drink for your moonlit soirees.

• Blend: Taittinger Nocturne Rose is made from 30% Chardonnay and 70% Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grape varieties.
• Appearance: The wine dazzles with its bright pink color and a delicate necklace of fine foam. 
• Aroma: The wine welcomes you with delicious aromas of patisserie, poached pear, buttered toast, and ripe citrus.
• Tasting notes: Refreshing flavors of ripe red berries and a creamy texture marks the palate, along with some silky tannins and a chalky minerality.

The wine is structured and has an elegant balance of acidity, tannins, and sugar.

• Alcohol content: Nocturne Rose has a 12.5% ABV.
• Winemaking: The wine is blended from around 30 different vineyards and aged for four years in the cellar before being disgorged. A cane sugar dosage of 17.5 g/l and addition of still red wine (12-15%) to the blend gives the Champagne its pleasant sweetness and beautiful color.
• Price: The average price of a Nocturne Rose bottle is $60.

Looking for the perfect dish to enhance the delightful flavour profile of your Nocturne?

How To Serve Taittinger Nocturne Champagne

Serve Taittinger Nocturne Champagne at around 8℃ in flute glasses.

The added sugar and the fruitiness makes it a perfect drink to end a lavish dinner, alongside fruit desserts, cheesecake, or perhaps even fruit ice cream. 

You can also pair it with seafood (preferably crab and lobster) or meaty dishes like Foie gras.

Taittinger Nocturne Critical Acclaim

Besides getting a lot of love from Champagne lovers, Nocturne has also impressed wine critics and has won many awards over the years.

For example, Taittinger Nocturne won a silver award at the 2012 International Wine & Spirit Competition and a gold at the 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards. 

During a 2017 tasting, renowned wine critic Robert Parker described the white Nocturne as elegant, structured, and ‘less sweet’ than the Rose variant.

Another famous wine critic, John Gilman, rated the white Nocturne at 91 points and found it a “really well-done sweeter-styled Champagne.”

Experience Stars In A Bottle With A Taittinger Nocturne!

The night-themed Nocturne Champagnes are a treat for your senses and offer great value to wine enthusiasts.

However, for long-term investment, there are other fine Champagnes like the Dom Perignon or even a rare red wine from Screaming Eagle.

To invest in such rare and fine wines, opt for a reputed wine investment company like Vinovest that will help you safely source, store, and sell your bottle.