Taittinger Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne 2012

99 points James Suckling: "This is a fantastic and refined Blanc de Blancs. So layered and complex, with lemon curd, chalk, hazelnuts, pastries, baked apples and almond croissants. Structured and tightly wound, with almost imperceptible bubbles. Delicious salty notes at the end. Beautiful. Drink or hold. (9/6/22)"

99 points Peter Moser (Falstaff) (10/11/22).

97-98 points Essi Avellan, MW: "As usual, the 2012 Comtes de Champagne is a classic blend of the five Côte des Blancs grands crus Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. This is as classic a recipe as it gets, and it works like a dream. Right upon launch now, it holds back plenty but also gives generously, promising a lot. It's rich and expressive on the nose, with gorgeous toast-lined fruit of the utmost purity. Comtes de Champagne's hallmark toasty layers are already there and increasing. The palate is intense and structured, coming with fine nervosity and tension. Refined, linear and long. This is sheer perfection already, but it's greatly ageworthy. Despite the small yields of the year, an average good volume of Comtes was produced. (Aug 2022)"

96 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2012 Comtes de Champagne is gorgeous. Warm and resonant in the glass, the 2012 Comtes shows all the allure that makes this vintage so appealing. The combination of bright citrus, mineral and floral notes typical of Comtes, enhanced by the soft contours of the vintage, makes for an inviting, open-knit Champagne that is quite showy right out of the gate. Light tropical accents on the finish add an exotic flair. Usually I recommend cellaring just-released Comtes, but that won’t be necessary here. Drink: 2022-2042. (May 2022)"

95+ points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "The 2012 Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne is showing beautifully out of the gates, offering up demonstrative aromas of sweet golden orchard fruit, buttery croissants, peach and hazelnuts. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and enveloping, it's a rich, textural, vinous Comtes somewhat reminiscent of the brilliant 2002. If it gains in tension and cut (as the 2002 did and as I suspect the 2012 will) with more time on cork, it will make this initial rating seem conservative. Drink: 2024-2055. (Oct 2022)"

95 points Tom Hewson (TimAtkin.com): "100% Chardonnay from Côte des Blancs Grand Crus. Comtes 2012 captures the compressed ripeness and brightness of 2012 perfectly, with its luscious preserved citrus, hazelnut and yellow stone fruit just starting to move into delicious, creamy, charry complexity. An immediate hit of silky, peach flesh fruitiness lands the palate in welcome territory, with plenty of zesty persistence through its texture of silky meringue. A much more classically aligned Comtes than 2011, luxurious rather than tense, saline or daring, yet shaped with considerable precision. If I had to take a guess at a peak it would fall between 2030-35. (Dec 2022)"