Champagne Dom Pérignon
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Dom Pérignon
Order Dom Pérignon »
Top Vintages Produced: |
1976, 1982, 1985, 1990, 1996, 2002
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Classification: |
Dom Pérignon - Appellation Champagne Contrôlée
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Varieties: |
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
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Wines Produced: |
Moët et Chandon Dom Pérignon – Chardonnay (50%), Pinot Noir (50%)
Moët et Chandon Dom Pérignon Rosé – Chardonnay (50%), Pinot Noir (50%)
Moët et Chandon Dom Pérignon Oenothèque –Chardonnay (50%), Pinot Noir (50%)
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History
In 1937 Moët et Chandon released the first vintage of its prestige cuvée, Dom Pérignon, having bought the brand
name from Eugène Mercier, who had originally trademarked it.
Dom Pérignon, a 17th century French Benedictine monk, is inadvertently credited with having invented Champagne
because of his efforts to improve its quality. As master of the Cellars of the Abbey of Hautvillers near Reims for
47 years, Dom Pérignon possessed great winemaking expertise. Although blind in his later years, he had an extraordinary
palate and a sense of smell which enabled him to assemble the wines in such a way that the final blend displayed the
unique qualities of each variety and its associated terroir.
The advent of Champagne actually came about quite naturally and by accident through an unintended secondary fermentation.
Like many winemakers of the era Dom Pérignon experienced this phenomenon while trying to create quality still white wine
during the chilly winter and warmer spring months. Only later did this process become more refined. Winemakers avoiding
the issue of exploding bottles (due to the internal bottle pressure created by carbon dioxide released during the
additional fermentation) by using thicker glass and securing the corks with wire cages, and streamlining the production
process to regulate when the second fermentation occurred. (read more)
By the time of Dom Pérignon’s death in 1715, Champagne had become en vogue at many of Europe’s royal courts and it
has continued to be viewed as one of the world’s most luxurious wines ever since. Moët et Chandon bought the Abbey
of Hautvillers in 1794, continuing the production of quality Champagnes that Dom Pérignon helped pioneer.
Viticulture and Vinification
Dom Pérignon is only made in years that are deemed suitable. A rigorous selection process takes
place in the vineyards and winery to ensure that only the finest grapes are used for this tête de cuvée.
The Champagne is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. In most vintages the majority of this fruit comes
from the Grand Cru vineyards of Aÿ, Verzenay, Mailly, Bouzy, Chouilly, Cramant, Avize and Le Mesnil, along with
some fruit from the Premier Cru vineyards in Hautvillers. However, in certain vintages, Dom Pérignon may
be made exclusively with fruit from all seventeen of Champagne’s Grand Crus.
The complexity of Dom Pérignon is due to the slow ageing process the wine undergoes while in bottle for
seven or more years prior to release. Today the distinctive style of Dom Pérignon is upheld by Richard
Geoffroy, Chef de Cave since 1990, who is solely responsible for declaring a Dom Pérignon vintage.
Classification
- Dom Pérignon - Appellation Champagne Contrôlée
Varieties
- Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the only varieties used in the blends.
Wines Produced
- Moët et Chandon Dom Pérignon – roughly equal portions Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
- Moët et Chandon Dom Pérignon Rosé – roughly equal portions Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
- Moët et Chandon Dom Pérignon Oenothèque – roughly equal portions Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Order top vintages of Dom Pérignon
- Dom Pérignon 2002: (96 AG)
"Intensely floral, with perfumed jasmine that dominates the bouquet..."
– Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate
- Dom Pérignon 1996: (97 AG)
"This remains a Champagne of fabulous elegance that will offer highly rewarding drinking
for decades..." – Antonio Galloni,
The Wine Advocate
- Dom Pérignon 1990: (98 LPB)
"Concentrated honey-nut, warm apple tart and spice flavours fill the mouth giving
ample flesh to the firm, fine structure." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown,
The Wine Advocate
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To check our complete stockholdings, please contact
us via email or call us on +44 (0) 20 3219 5588.
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