"THE BEST WINE IN THE WORLD"
It took a visionary spirit and exceptional daring to set such an exalted ambition at the end of the 17th century. But vision and daring were second nature to Dom Pérignon. In 1668, the young monk took up his duties as cellarer at the Benedictine Hautvillers Abbey, in the western hills of the Marne.
For forty-seven years, Dom Pérignon worked on creating, perfecting and establishing the reputation of what would later be known as the "Champagne" method. A man endowed with amazing intuition and foresight, he divined the promise of hidden luxury in the grapes of Champagne. The aristocracy, always in search of new taste sensations, immediately recognized the quality of the wine made by "Père Pérignon".
Word of "Pérignon’s wine" soon reached the table of Louis XIV, Dom Pérignon’s exact contemporary. The "flacons" (as the bottles of effervescent wine from Champagne were called) cost four times more than the best wines of the time. This wine, which represented a revolution in winemaking, also created a revolution in tastes and customs.
Dom Pérignon’s wine became the iconic beverage of a new spirit of libertinage that took hold during the Regency and then under Louis XV. This lifestyle earned the 18th century a reputation as the age of pleasure. A spirit of refinement, voluptuousness, delicacy, exuberance and sensuality reigned in every sphere of life, from the salon to the boudoir.
Tasting notes by Richard Geoffroy, Chef de Cave:
"Fresh, crystalline and sharp, the first nose reveals a unique vegetal, aquatic world, with hints of white pepper and gardenia. The wine’s maturity then makes a gentle appearance before exhaling peaty accents.
In the mouth, the attack is direct, a prelude to a lusty roundness that seems to curl up like a plant. The notes of anise and dried ginger glide over fruit skins (pear and mango), creating an effect that is more tactile than fleshy. The finale stretches out and then comes to rest, calm, mature and diffuse.
An ineffable charm has made itself felt, with no effect on the wine’s integrity."
Ratings & Reviews
96 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2002 Dom Perignon is at first intensely floral, with perfumed jasmine that dominates the bouquet. With time in the glass the wine gains richness as the flavors turn decidedly riper and almost tropical. Ripe apricots, passion fruit and peaches emerge from this flashy, opulent Dom Perignon. The wine’s volume makes it approachable today, but readers in search of more complexity will want to cellar this for at least a few years to allow for some of the baby fat to drop off. Geoffroy describes the vintage as very ripe and adds that some of the Chardonnay showed the ill-effects of the hot growing season in it the somewhat burned, dehydrated fruit that came in that year. This bottle was disgorged in July, 2009. To be released summer 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2032" - Antonion Galloni (3/2010)
96 Points - Wine & Spirits Magazine:
"Harmonious and huge, this is a bold vinous Champagne with the fresh pear flavor intensity of Puligny from a great vintage. Peter Liem commented that the reductive winemaking balanced the weight and ripeness this wine achieved in 2002. For all its size and power, it shows remarkable suppleness and elegance. This is a champagne with sophistication and discretion, one tha will gain from long aging."
95 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine:
"It was immediately apparent that the Dom Pérignon Brut 2002 had opened substantially since my initial look at it, showing richness, but also depth and power. The Pinot Noir component dominates the blend, as evidenced by the dark berry tones and an undercurrent of mineral, which is backed by a firm structure (95 points, non blind)." (07/2010)
Sushi & Tempura, Fried/Grilled Shrimp, Asian Cuisine w/ Sweet & Savory Sauces, Raw Shellfish (Oysters, Cherrystone Clams).
