Taittinger Brut Champagne Prélude Grands Crus NV

95 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): "(tasted in 2022 in Australia; base vintage 2016; disgorged January 2021; cork). Boasting a pale, bright straw hue, this is a Prélude that unites tension with impressive depth, concentration and drive. Its grand cru mandate is on grand display in a wonderful juxtaposition of fruit depth and structural confidence of pronounced, fine chalk mineral texture. A panoply of fruit spans everything from the tension of lemon and grapefruit to the crunch of beurre bosc pear and apple, the succulence of white peach, the tang of strawberries and the exoticism of fig. Time has brought brioche and almond nougat, softening its mineral definition with creamy mouth feel. Exacting line and length confirm another outstanding Prélude. (Edition VII; 2024)"

95 points Bettanne & Desseauve (2025).

94 points James Suckling: "An elegant and mineral Champagne that has aromas of biscuit, dried apple, honeycomb, chalk and lemon curd. It's silky and refined on the palate. Rounded, supple and seamless finish. 50% chardonnay and 50% pinot noir. 100% grand cru. Based on 2017 vintage. Drink now or hold. (8/6/24)"

93 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "I drank this bottle of Taittinger Prélude while in Beaune for my tastings of the 2023 vintage. It is clearly a younger release, but as Taittinger does not deign to share any information about the base year or date of disgorgement on the back label, I do not have any clear sense of how recent a release the wine happened to be. In any case, it was still quite youthful, but showed excellent potential, with its bouquet offering up scents of apple, fresh-baked bread, chalky minerality, dried flowers and incipient smokiness in the upper register. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied and still quite primary in personality, with a rock solid core of fruit, fine acidity and grip, elegant mousse and a long, vibrant and promising finish. This particular release (mystery as it is) needs at least another three to five years in the cellar to properly blossom, but it is going to be a very good wine. 2028-2060. (Mar/Apr 2025)"

93 points Falstaff: "Medium golden yellow with silver reflections and a fine, persistent mousse. Nuances of yellow apple, candied orange zest and subtle blossom honey on the nose, with some cookie undertones. Juicy on the palate, in a fruity style with subtle sweetness at the core and ripe peach on the finish. There's a nutty touch and a hint of caramel in the aftertaste, leaving a full-bodied, rather opulent impression. (10/4/24)"

92-93 points Essi Avellan, MW: "(50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir). Fruit quality is the key to Prélude’s deliciousness. As the name states, it ios composed of Grand Cru fruit exclusively.Its Chardonnays originate in Avize and Le Mesnil sur Oger and Pinot Noirs in Mailly-Champagne and Ambonnay. There is lovely vanilla-scented sweetness to the pristine fruitiness that gets complexed by fine toasty whiffs. Equally pure on the soft palate full of fruit. The mousse is creamy-caressing, fitting perfectly to the wine’s silky tone. (Aug 2024)"

92 points Tom Hewson (Decanter): "Vintage quality, with five years of ageing on lees. Clean and impeccably-shaped, the latest release of Prélude combines intense lemon oil and fleshy peach Chardonnay with sweet strawberry Pinot, crystal-clear and long, rounded out by creamy-textured almond richness and showing promise for further ageing. A hidden gem in the Taittinger portfolio. 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay grands crus. Drinking Window: 2023-2033. (10/31/23)"