In 2015 Taittinger was the first major Champagne house to venture into the English sparkling wine scene. In partnership with their long-standing UK importer, and led by Master of Wine Patrick McGrath, they eschewed the easy route of simply buying an existing English wine estate - Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger was convinced that, for the project to really excel, the only way was to start from scratch. The project was named Domaine Evremond.
Whilst establishing a vineyard is no small feat, Evremond has raised the bar. Armed with a long list of non-negotiables including chalk soils, a sheltered site, south/south-east facing slopes and elevation lower than 100 metres, it took them 18 months to find the perfect spot and, in the autumn of 2015, they purchased 170 acres of former apple orchards close to the village of Chilham, Kent.
So far, they have planted 153 acres of vines across 11 blocks surrounded by mature woodland and young tree plantings. Chardonnay has been planted where there is the least topsoil so the roots can drive straight into the chalk bedrock and the Pinot Noir and Meunier on sites with more clay and gravel. Whilst viticulture is led by the former landowner and farming neighbour, Mark Gaskain, Taittinger’s Chef de Cave Alexandre Ponnavoy leads up winemaking. Just days before the 2024 vintage started, they completed works on a spectacular new subterranean winery with capacity for the ageing of over a million bottles.
For all the grandeur of the Taittinger name, this is a genuine family project with a hands-on and ‘wellies on the ground’ approach. Pierre-Emmanuel’s daughter Vitalie has taken over as president of Taittinger and it is McGrath who has spent more time in the vineyard than anyone else, from planting vines to pruning and picking. A tasting room opens in the coming weeks headed by McGrath’s daughter.
Today sees their first release. Domaine Evremond Classic Cuvée Edition I is largely based on the 2020 vintage, with the remaining 20% from the 2019 vintage. A blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Meunier aged on the lees for 3 years and disgorged in August 2024 with 7g per litre dosage. We tasted the wine on Monday morning and it is a fine first offering of what is surely an estate to watch. "Châpeau", writes Anne Krebiehl, and we are inclined to agree.
 | Region | Vintage | Wine | Qty | Size | Units | Price | Per | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | England | BV20 | Domaine Evremond Classic Cuvee Edition 1 New | 7 \ 0 | 6×75cl | 30 | 235.00 | 6 | Domaine Evremond Classic Cuvee Edition 1 | ||
| Wines are offered subject to remaining unsold. E&OE. | |||||||||||
The NV Brut Classic Cuvée Edition I is the inaugural release of Champagne Taittinger’s English sparkling wine project founded in 2014, made from vines planted in 2017 in chalk and flint soils in Kent. It is based on the 2020 vintage with around 25% of reserve wines dating to the tiny first vintage of 2018 and the first proper vintage in 2019, all fermented and aged in stainless steel only, undergoing full malolactic conversion. The wine is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier, reflecting the current plantings at the 69-hectare estate. A citric, bright lemon and green apple freshness defines the lively nose of the wine. More air allows lemony Viennoiserie to peep through, as well as an ozone breeze. Fine, creamy bubbles immediately distinguish the slender palate, where more lemon freshness is bedded in the smoothness of that exemplary mousse. An impressive and elegant debut, svelte and clean-cut, especially considering the Pinot Noir dominance of the wine. Châpeau.
The first release of a project that brings Taittinger to England, Domaine Evremond was co-founded by the Taittinger family and Patrick McGrath MW. A blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Meunier, this wine spent three years on the lees before disgorgement in 2024. Bright, pale straw in the glass, the nose is quintessentially English sparkling, bursting with notes of apple blossom, honeysuckle and lemon verbena. The palate is built around a streak of lively acidity, the mousse with a creamy texture that adds body and depth to the green-fruited core. There is a suppleness thanks to this, contrasting a chalky edge with light bready notes in the background. With 7g/l dosage, this is a finely-balanced, refreshing and bright wine that is a strong first effort as the team learns how the young vines react to their surroundings.
