Taittinger unveils 2008 Collection Edition

Champagne Taittinger has unveiled the 14th edition of its Taittinger Collection, presenting a limited edition bottle featuring an image of a leopard captured by Brazilian artist Sebastião Salgado.

The Taittinger Collection was the brainchild of Claude Taittinger, who in 1983 approached his first artist, Hungarian Victor Vasarely, with a view to commission him to make a distinctive look for a small number of 1978 vintage bottles.

Subsequent editions have featured the work of world famous artists such as the French surrealist André Masson and American pop artist Robert Rauschenberg.

This is only the 14th edition of its Collection since 1983, with Brazilian photographer, Sebastião Salgado commissioned to produce a limited edition label for Taittinger’s Brut Millésimé 2008.

Salgado is the first Brazilian and photographic artist to have been selected for the task, choosing to feature an image of a leopard captured in the Barab River Valley in Damaraland, Namibia, in 2005. The bottle has been designed in black with white writing in keeping with Salgado’s black and white photography.

“There is always a great deal of anticipation around the release of the new Collection wine and it enjoys a huge following amongst collectors,” said Lynn Murray, marketing director at Hatch Mansfield, Champagne Taittinger’s sole UK agent.

“We are very excited about the latest Taittinger Collection release and the link to photographic art and it was most fitting to launch this beautiful piece at the Paris natural history museum in the presence of the artist. Salgado is highly regarded, as is the 2008 vintage generally – a powerful combination”.

Taittinger Brut Millésimé 2008 is blended from first press wines only and consists of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir grapes harvested mostly from the Grand Crus in Montagne de Reims and the borders of the Vallée de la Marne.

The Champagne is made in limited quantities and only in exceptional vintages. The 14 edition will be available to selected independent wine merchants from September through Hatch Mansfield with an RRP of £185.

Previous Taittinger Collections include :-

• Vasarely Vintage 1978, released 1983
• Arman, Vintage 1981, released 1985
• Masson, Vintage 1982, released 1987
• Da Silva, Vintage 1983, released 1988
• Lichtenstein, Vintage 1985, released 1990
• Hartung, Vintage 1986, released 1992
• Imai , Vintage 1988, released 1994
• Corneille, Vintage 1990, released 1996
• Matta, Vintage 1992, released 1998
• Zao Wou Ki, Vintage 1998, released 2003
• Rauschenberg, Vintage 2000, released 2007
• Sow, Vintage 2002, released 2011
• There is no 13th collection
• Salgado,Vintage 2008, released 2016