Champagne
Champagne, the epitome of elegance and celebration, is widely regarded as the pinnacle of sparkling wines. As one of the most prestigious wine regions in the world, Champagne has captured the hearts of wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs with its exceptional quality, refined craftsmanship, and iconic vineyards.
Historically, Champagne has been dominated by some world-acclaimed Champagne House, which source grapes and harvest from Champagne growers. These famous Grandes Marques include Louis Roederer (Cristal), Dom Pérignon, Krug, Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Bollinger, all of them are revered for their notable names that display unrivalled winemaking prestige and pedigree.
In the recent decade, the emerging Grower Champagne trend in Champagne is shaking up the industry by challenging the dominance of the big Champagne houses. These small-scale producers, also known as "Récoltant-Manipulant" or RM, grow their own grapes and produce their own Champagne, showcasing the unique terroir and character of their vineyards. Jacques Selosse, Ulysse Collin, and Champagne Vilmart & Cie are among the most prominent names in this trend, producing some truly artisanal and terroir-driven Champagnes.
Champagne is primarily made from three main grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. These grapes are carefully selected and blended to create a harmonious and complex flavour profile. Chardonnay contributes elegance, freshness, and finesse, while Pinot Noir adds structure, depth, and fruitiness. Pinot Meunier brings a touch of roundness and vibrancy to the blend.
The region of Champagne is divided into several distinct sub-regions, including Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne. Each sub-region has its unique terroir, characterized by variations in soil composition and microclimates, which influence the style and character of the wines produced.
Champagne offers various styles, from non-vintage blends to vintage cuvées and prestigious prestige cuvées. While Non-vintage Champagnes typically epitomise the house style, the vintage Champagnes are made from grapes harvested in one particular year (top vintages such as 1996, 2002, 2008 etc), in which these wines showcase the unique characteristics of the specific vintage.
The prestige cuvées, often the flagship wines of the renowned Champagne houses, are the pinnacle of excellence. These exceptional Champagnes are created using the finest grapes, the most meticulous winemaking techniques and often benefit from extended ageing to achieve unparalleled complexity and finesse.
Champagne is synonymous with celebration, elegance, and luxury. Its effervescent charm and timeless appeal have made it the drink of choice for countless special occasions and memorable moments. With its rich history, iconic vineyards, and unrivalled quality, Champagne continues to captivate wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.
Champagne
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (VN (AG)) | $2,780.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)The 2006 Dom Pérignon P2 is a Champagne of power and substance. All the solar intensity of the year comes through. Apricot, baked apple tart, white flowers, spice, marzipan and tangerine peel stain the palate. The 2006 possesses tremendous punch, while also showing the first signs of aromatic development consistent with a 20-year-old Champagne. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (VN (AG)) | $3,865.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)Tasted next to the 1996, the 1995 Dom Pérignon Rosé P2 shows why 1995 is such a dark-horse vintage among those in the know. A Champagne of notable depth and power, the 1995 is so impressive. Layers of dense Pinot fruit stain the palate. Complex and wonderfully taut, with sublime balance, the 1995 simply has it all. It offers a decidedly rich, vinous personality that is incredibly appealing. There is no question that 1996 is the more famous vintage. It forced to choose, however, I would go for the 1995. It's one of the most memorable wines of this tasting. Slow out of the gate on release, the 1995 P2 has reached a magnificent apogee of expression. |
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Champagne | 9 | 97 (VN (AG)) | $1,390.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)The 1996 Dom Pérignon Rosé P2 is vibrant and classically austere right out of the gate. In that sense, it is very much a sibling of the 2008 stylistically. Crushed rocks, mint, white pepper and dried herbs weave though a core of taut fruit. The personality of this cold, late-ripening season is very much the dominant characteristic. Superb. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (VN (AG)) | $1,360.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)The 2000 Dom Pérignon Rosé P2 is even better than the last time I tasted it. This is an espeically fine bottle. Rich, plush and enveloping, the 2000 is a magnificent Rosé from the Richard Geoffroy era. Kirsch, blood orange, spice and rose petal race across the palate. I especially admire the wine's breadth and vinous intensity, signatures of the house style at the time. Magnificent. |
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Champagne | 1 | - | $2,185.00 | |||||
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From the revered Champagne region of France, Dom Perignon P2 Triology 1998,1999,2000 NV serves as a testament to the venerated winemaking skills of the eponymous Benedictine monk. Crafted in the esteemed cellars of Moët & Chandon, it endows a sublime exploration of three vintages, elegantly curated in a single trilogy production. Each bottle undergoes a precise méthode traditionelle, enriched by an extended lees-aging period, thereby intensifying its the wine's depth and complexity. Delicate effervescence unveils waves of elegant minerality, intertwined with notes of almond and ripe yellow fruits. Endowed with a vibrant yet graceful persona, the Dom Perignon P2 Triology 1998,1999,2000 seamlessly marries youthful vivacity with the unmistakable hints of a prolonged evolution. A rare piece of artistry in a trilogy format, preserving the luminosity inherent within each unique vintage, thus fulfilling the brand's acclaimed commitment to delivering vintage-only champagne. |
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Champagne | 2 | 98 (FS) | $1,150.00 | |||||
Falstaff (98)Medium golden yellow, silver reflections, fine, persistent mousse. Dark minerality, initially limes, a hint of bitter oranges, fine roasted aromas, nuances of coffee, ripe figs, some blossom honey, incredibly multi-faceted bouquet that develops well with air. Complex, finely-meshed, firm texture, good fruit expression, a hint of cherries and liquorice, has great vertical depth, delicate aftertaste of blackberries and liquorice, lemony touch, great length, completely convincing. Please use a large Burgundy glass to explore all the nuances. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (FS) | $2,460.00 | |||||
Falstaff (98)Medium golden yellow, silver reflections, fine, persistent mousse. Dark minerality, initially limes, a hint of bitter oranges, fine roasted aromas, nuances of coffee, ripe figs, some blossom honey, incredibly multi-faceted bouquet that develops well with air. Complex, finely-meshed, firm texture, good fruit expression, a hint of cherries and liquorice, has great vertical depth, delicate aftertaste of blackberries and liquorice, lemony touch, great length, completely convincing. Please use a large Burgundy glass to explore all the nuances. |
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Champagne | 2 | - | $3,415.00 | |||||
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Champagne | 1 | - | $3,825.00 | |||||
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Champagne | 3 | 96 (VN) | $2,735.00 | |||||
Vinous (96)The 1996 Dom Pérignon Rosé was a knock out. It showed terrific clarity in its perfumed, sweet fruit, roses and spices, with notable balance and superb classiness. |
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Champagne | 1 | 20 (JR) | $1,245.00 | |||||
Jancis Robinson (20)Magnum. Pungent and composed with massive energy. Lovely edge of freshness. Long and nuanced. So clean and pure. Long and lovely! |
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Champagne | 1 | 20 (JR) | $2,430.00 | |||||
Jancis Robinson (20)Magnum. Pungent and composed with massive energy. Lovely edge of freshness. Long and nuanced. So clean and pure. Long and lovely! |
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Champagne | 2 | 96+ (VN) | $2,020.00 | |||||
Vinous (96+)A wine of pure and total pleasure, the 2004 Dom Pérignon Rosé is explosive and hedonistically rich, with tons of pure texture from the 28% still Pinot in the blend. In this tasting, the 2004 Rosé is especially fine. I imagine it will reward readers lucky enough to own it with several decades of exceptional drinking. In a word: sublime. |
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Champagne | 1 | 99 (JS) | $831.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)A mind-blowing wine. This is super subtle and intense with aromas of peaches, light strawberry and cream. Also shows rose petal and cooked peaches. Medium to full body, with ultra-fine tannins that feel like fine silk. The finish goes on for mintutes. It floats across the palate. The winemaker says the closet vintage to this is the 1990, but I think this is better. |
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Champagne | 1 | 99 (JS) | $1,790.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)A mind-blowing wine. This is super subtle and intense with aromas of peaches, light strawberry and cream. Also shows rose petal and cooked peaches. Medium to full body, with ultra-fine tannins that feel like fine silk. The finish goes on for mintutes. It floats across the palate. The winemaker says the closet vintage to this is the 1990, but I think this is better. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (DC) | $965.00 | |||||
Decanter (98)The Dom Perignon Rosé 2006 is simply amazing. Notes of raspberry, spices and mint jump from the glass in a seductive combination. The texture in the mouth is of precise, crystalline, laser-like tannins in an opulent style. A very great success in a vintage that was not always easy in Champagne. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (DC) | $1,790.00 | |||||
Decanter (98)The Dom Perignon Rosé 2006 is simply amazing. Notes of raspberry, spices and mint jump from the glass in a seductive combination. The texture in the mouth is of precise, crystalline, laser-like tannins in an opulent style. A very great success in a vintage that was not always easy in Champagne. |
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Champagne | 2 | 99 (JS) | $1,075.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)This shows incredible depth of fruit with strawberry, cherry and phenolics. Full-bodied and layered with an incredible, three-dimensional element to the wine. This is so transparent and dynamic with dark fruit, yet it remains vivid and bright. Refined and precise, it goes on and on. Really savory, fresh and incredibly pinot-noir-like. What a wine. 13 years of maturation in the bottle. So drinkable now, but it will age for many years ahead. |
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Champagne | 1 | 99 (JS) | $2,025.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)This shows incredible depth of fruit with strawberry, cherry and phenolics. Full-bodied and layered with an incredible, three-dimensional element to the wine. This is so transparent and dynamic with dark fruit, yet it remains vivid and bright. Refined and precise, it goes on and on. Really savory, fresh and incredibly pinot-noir-like. What a wine. 13 years of maturation in the bottle. So drinkable now, but it will age for many years ahead. |
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Champagne | 5 | 98 (VN (AG)) | $1,085.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)The 2009 Dom Pérignon Rosé is one of my favorites among recent vintages. Layered and opulent in the glass, the 2009 is immediately alluring. Soft, plush contours capture all of the radiance of this warm vintage. Even so, the Rosé retains plenty of classicism. Crushed rose petal, sweet red cherry, mint, pomegranate and orange rind all meld together. The combination of textural presence and exotic flavors makes for a totally seductive Dom Pérignon Rosé. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (VN (AG)) | $2,215.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)The 2009 Dom Pérignon Rosé is one of my favorites among recent vintages. Layered and opulent in the glass, the 2009 is immediately alluring. Soft, plush contours capture all of the radiance of this warm vintage. Even so, the Rosé retains plenty of classicism. Crushed rose petal, sweet red cherry, mint, pomegranate and orange rind all meld together. The combination of textural presence and exotic flavors makes for a totally seductive Dom Pérignon Rosé. |
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