We tasted: Dom Pérignon 2004

Dom Pérignon is the prestige line of the Moët&Chandon house which is only produced in the best years. It has become so popular that we think even if you don’t like champagne (which, in my opinion, is unbelievable) you probably have heard about it. The name comes from the inspired Benedictine monk, Dom Pierre Pérignon, who discovered the fizzy property of the wine in the Champagne region. The romantic story says he was the inventor of the sparkling wine, but in reality the climate was the main responsible. The unique weather (continental but with strong coastal influences from the North of France), especially when autumn comes, makes the fermentation of the wine to stop before the yeast had consumed the entire sugar from the must. Then a mild winter makes the fermentation start again, this time with the wine in the bottle (la deuxième fermentation). It was then when Dom Pérignon tried the wine and exclaimed “I’m tasting the stars”. This is what the legend says, but what we certainly know is that Dom Pierre Pérignon was a great cellarer (at the Abbey Saint-Pierre, Hautvillers) and he definitely had a big contribution in the creation of champagne.

The 2004 cuvée: the nose is elegant and vibrant with notes of freshly baked bread, almonds, white flowers, and hints of grapefruit. On the palate, it surprises you with its crisp but round mousse, followed by toast, brioche, citrus and exotic fruits. The bubbles are fine and persistent, like a prolonged symphony for all senses.

This is a graceful Champagne with firm acidity and smoky minerality, delivering a long, mouthwatering finish. This wine has an extraordinary keeping potential (experts say up to 2040). James Suckling states about this wine “Classic Dom is back!”