What
The most famous prestige cuvée, dating to the 1921 vintage and a truly separate wine from Moët & Chandon since 1943; now a separate maison with its own Chef de Cave, the young and visionary Vincent Chaperon.
Where
Épernay; vineyard sources for chardonnay in Chouilly, Cramant, Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and pinot noir in Aÿ, Ambonnay, Bouzy, Mailly-Champagne and Verzenay plus Hautvillers and Vertus; almost exclusively estate-grown fruit is used.
Why
The Dom Pérignon name sells itself, but true champagne lovers value it for its supremely tense, energetic, “reductive” style (meaning it is made with as little exposure as possible to oxygen), which allows it to uncoil slowly over decades in bottle. Every wine released from the house is vintage, typically aged 6-7 years on lees before release.
What else
The late disgorged “plénitudes” p2 and p3, are released after about 12-15 and 20-30 years in bottle respectively, but the normal disgorgement has a fruit purity and charm that make it the most approachable option.
Tasting Notes
Opens with a sparkle of white orchid, cedar, yuzu, celery and spark plug with lots of toothsome toast. The citrussy palate has a powdery texture, the acid is finely integrated, the body is poised and tense. Generous toastiness saturates the palate long after the wine has departed; the finish has a cleansing bitterness.
Try It With
Savoury egg dishes like Chawanmushi.
When To Drink
Apéritif
Perfect For
Your family friend.
Tatler Tip
Hold onto these 2012s (drink your 2010's while you wait!)
TL/DR
Flinty, energetic, iconic.