Taittinger Brut--Vintage 1990 This firm was originally established by Jacques Fourneaux under his own name in 1743, making it the third-oldest Champagne house. Jacques Fourneaux came from a family of important vineyard owners in Rilly-la-Montagne. He was succeeded by his son Jrme Fourneaux, who was the constant advisor to the young widowed Nicole-Barbe Clicquot, and he blended all the Veuve Clicquot wines between 1805 and 1810. The formative years of this house were relatively uneventful compared to the post-war period when it has enjoyed phenomenal success, having been purchased in 1932 by Pierre Taittinger from Lorraine. Claude Taittinger took the helm in 1960, since then his nephew Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger has joined the firm as joint managing director with Philippe Court. Taittinger has always aimed for elegance and purity of fruit, rather than character and complexity. T.S. See further lots throughout the sale