Taittinger Somm Night

Some of us industry folk had a beautiful opportunity recently to attend the annual Taittinger Somm Night event in SF.

This is a great occasion wherein vendors, distributors, retailers, and wait staff can get together and hang out. It’s especially nice because we all get to be under one roof without any expectations of wheeling and dealing – we don’t

need to sell or push or network. We were there to unwind, chat, and drink some tasty Champagne as we roll into the ever-busy Autumn months.

 This year’s gathering was held at Joe’s Clock Shop, a speakeasy-type joint in San Francisco where we had access to low-stakes (i.e. in Cali that means no-real-money-for-legal-purposes) gambling and a handsome lineup of Taittinger Champagne along with some top-notch hors d'oeuvres. We got to taste a lot of what Taittinger has to offer right now along with some lovely cheese, charcuterie, and other appetizers. I was much a fan of the crepes rolled with Nutella and sliced strawberries. My friend and K&L colleague, Rachel, and I also got very involved in the Roulette table and had some arguments about strategy that never went anywhere, but we had a solid night anyhow.

 The menu on hand went as such:

·         Taittinger Les Folies De La Marquetterie Champagne Brut

·         Taittinger La Francaise Champagne Brut Sparkling

·         Taittinger Nocturne City Lights Rose Blend

·         Taittinger Comtes De Champagne Brut Rose 2006

·         Taittinger Nocturne City Lights Champagne Blend

·         Taittinger Champagne Brut Prestige Rose Champagne Blend

·         Taittinger La Francaise Champagne Brut Sparkling 1.5L          

·         Taittinger Prelude Champagne Brut Sparkling 

·         Taittinger Comtes Blanc de Blanc 2007

Tasting-wise, the highlight was the brand new (so far yet unreleased!) 2007 Taittinger Comtes Blanc de Blanc. This Grand Cru offering is quite lovely, balancing floral notes with citrus and just a slight toastiness and some herbal qualities. It’s nutty and apple-y, and it seems to get a little more nuanced with each sip. This is a Champagne that’s ready to drink now and could make your Christmas and/or New Year’s Eve a tip-top show. Luckily, we here at K&L will be getting in this bouncy bubbly brew in the next few weeks, so everyone can taste this great Champagne, along with most of the others from this recent Somm appreciation night. Stop by and treat yourself by picking up a bottle for your next celebration.

I must give a shout-out of appreciation and much thanks to Clovis Taittinger and Gary Dunn, and everyone involved at Taittinger and Kobrand for putting on this fun gathering. I got to thank Clovis and Gary at the end of the night outside of Joe’s after everything had wound down. The K&L Crew had a great time. Now we have to get back to planning our Roulette tactics that will be sure to take Vegas by storm…

—Neal Fischer