Dom Pérignon

Very floral aromas with jasmine, honeysuckle, lemons and subtle apples. Lavender as well. The medium-bodied palate has super-integrated bubbles, a touch of fine phenolics and a racy, lively finish. Weightless and refined for the vintage. The aftertaste includes ginger, dried apples, lychees, bitter lemons and minerals. 54% chardonnay and 46% pinot noir. Dosage 4.5 g/L. Mid-2026 release. A new style for Dom Perignon? Drink now.

Dom Pérignon is named after the 17th century Benedictine monk Dom Pierre Pérignon (1638-1715), who, by legend, is said to have invented sparkling wine while cellarmaster at the Abbey of Hautvillers. This is fake news, as is the notion he was blind. However, he did make the first clear still red wine, the first clear sparkling from red grapes (Blanc de Noir), put thought into the blend and picking times, propelled the use of cork closures and Verre Anglais (strong, coal-fired English glass), and invented the shallow Champagne basket press. So, we do have a lot to thank this monk for. This is the prestige cuvée of Moët et Chandon since 1937. My bottle of 2015 Dom Perignon features the exciting energy and artwork of Jean Michel Basquiat and blends 51% Pinot Noir and 49% Chardonnay, disgorged in January 2023 with 4.5 g/L. Surprisingly just medium bodied, this envelops the palate with generous brioche, subtle toast, white and red cherry, crystalline lemon peel and green apple interwoven with fine lees. All are structured on a framework of subtly smoked stones and based on deep, deep chalk. The finish continues with lingering lemon peel and finely humming chalk. There's a lovely tensile character to this vintage, which is unexpected yet still feels very DP.