Taittinger Nocturne

Taittinger Nocturne Sec is a sweeter-style Champagne from Maison Taittinger, bottled at 12.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Distinguished by a dosage of 17.5 grams per liter — roughly double that of Taittinger's Brut Réserve — this Sec expression earned a Gold Medal at the 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards and 91 points from critic John Gilman.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12.5%  |  Origin: Champagne, France  |  Style: Sec (17.5 g/L dosage)  |  Producer: Champagne Taittinger

Production & Heritage

Champagne Taittinger, founded in 1734 and headquartered in Reims, remains one of the few major Champagne houses still owned and operated by its founding family. Nocturne is produced using the traditional Méthode Champenoise from a blend of 40% Chardonnay and 60% Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, then aged for a minimum of four years on its lees before disgorgement. The elevated dosage of 17.5 grams per liter places it firmly in the Sec category, designed to deliver richer, rounder fruit character than the house's flagship Brut while stopping well short of outright sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with fresh white flowers before moving into dried apricot and yellow peach. A subtle perfumed quality — bright lemon zest layered with ripe orchard fruit — develops as the wine breathes.

Taste: On entry, raisin and apricot sweetness glides across the palate with a creamy, medium-bodied texture. The mid-palate introduces toasted brioche and vanilla, while cooked apples and pears emerge toward the peak. Fruits-in-syrup richness is balanced by a persistent thread of acidity that keeps the wine from tipping into cloying territory.

Finish: The finish is long, carrying ripe fruit sweetness alongside chalky minerality. A lingering interplay of candied apple and toasty lees character slowly fades, leaving a clean, satisfying close.

How to Drink Nocturne

Slightly chilled to around 8–10°C, Nocturne excels as an aperitif or dessert companion and benefits from a broad white-wine glass that lets its aromatic complexity unfurl. Its richer dosage also makes it remarkably versatile in cocktails: try it in a French 75, where the extra sweetness rounds out the lemon and gin; in a Champagne Cocktail, replacing the sugar cube with the wine's own residual sugar for a more integrated result; or in a Bellini, where the apricot and peach notes echo the traditional peach purée.

Best For

• Pairing with fruit-forward desserts at a dinner party
• Gifting someone who prefers sweeter sparkling wines over bone-dry Brut
• Late-evening sipping after a formal meal
• Introducing a wine enthusiast to the Sec style of Champagne

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Nocturne taste like? Taittinger Nocturne delivers a creamy, medium-bodied palate of dried apricot, toasted brioche, vanilla, and cooked apple, balanced by chalky minerality. It is noticeably sweeter than a standard Brut but retains enough acidity to feel elegant rather than heavy.

How does Nocturne compare to Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec? Both occupy the sweeter end of the Champagne spectrum, but Nocturne's 40% Chardonnay component tends to give it a brighter, more floral aromatic profile compared to the Pinot-dominant richness of Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec. Nocturne also carries a Sec-level dosage of 17.5 g/L, while Demi-Sec bottlings typically range from 32–50 g/L, making Nocturne the drier of the two.

Is Nocturne good for sipping neat? Absolutely — served lightly chilled on its own, the wine's layered aromatics and balanced sweetness make it an excellent standalone pour, particularly after dinner or alongside lighter desserts.

Where is Nocturne made? Nocturne is produced by Champagne Taittinger in Reims, at the heart of the Champagne appellation in northeastern France. The house sources fruit from vineyards across the region's Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne sub-regions.

What foods pair well with Nocturne? Foie gras with fig compote, as the wine's residual sugar mirrors the richness; blue cheese such as Roquefort, where the sweetness offsets the salt; tarte Tatin, which echoes the cooked-apple notes; spicy Thai or Indian appetizers, where the sugar tempers chili heat; and almond-based pastries, which complement the brioche and vanilla character.

What sizes does Nocturne come in? Taittinger Nocturne is most widely available in the standard 750ml bottle, though the house occasionally releases it in magnum (1.5L) format for select markets.

Is Nocturne worth the price? Nocturne positions as a mid-to-premium Champagne that fills a niche many houses overlook — a well-made Sec from a prestigious, family-owned maison. Its minimum four-year aging and strong critical reception, including 91 points from John Gilman and a Gold at the Decanter World Wine Awards, provide solid value within its category.

Why Nocturne?

Sweeter Champagnes rarely receive the same attention as their Brut and Extra-Brut counterparts, yet Nocturne demonstrates that higher dosage, handled skillfully, can produce a wine of genuine complexity. The extended four-year lees aging integrates the 17.5 g/L of sugar so thoroughly that the sweetness reads as ripe fruit rather than added confection. Backed by a Gold Medal from Decanter and 91 points from John Gilman, this is not a novelty pour — it is a serious Sec from one of Champagne's most storied family-owned houses. For drinkers who find Brut too austere but want the prestige and finesse of top-tier Champagne, Nocturne occupies a rare and rewarding middle ground.