Dom Perignon, Brut Vintage 2015

vinous 1996

Rating: 95 –95

One of the more accessible wines of the year today, the 1996 Dom Pérignon impresses for its exceptional balance and class. Lemon peel, white flowers and mint are laced together in the glass. The 1996 is in a terrific place today where it can be enjoyed or cellared for a number of years.

vinous 1996

Rating: 97 –97

Three 1996s from Dom Pérignon are special. After having compared original releases and Œnothèque bottlings across a number of vintages going back to 1964, I am increasingly of the belief that the most enjoyable Dom Pérignons are impeccably stored bottles of the original release. The 1996 Vintage is coming along quite nicely. Early notes of tertiary complexity have begun to appear, adding considerable richness and breadth. This remains a Champagne of fabulous elegance that will offer highly rewarding drinking for decades.

vinous 1996

Rating: 97 –97

Then it was off to one of the most mind-boggling array of 1996 Champagnes I have ever seen. Imagine being able to liberally sample all of that vintage’s top wines at once. As I have recently tasted and reviewed many of the wines recently in my retrospective of the 1996 Champagnes, I won’t comment on each wine here, except to say that so many bottles seem to be growing with each passing year. The head of the class among the 1996s remains Krug’s Clos du Mesnil. I was equally impressed with all three Dom Pérignons and both Cristals.

vinous 1996

Rating: 95 –95

Both 1996 Dom Pérignons are gorgeous and have the potential to continue to develop beautifully for many years. The 1996 Dom Pérignon shows all of the classic notes of this wine in an exuberant, big style. Smoke, spices and roasted nuts are some of the nuances that emerge from this classy and very complete Dom Pérignon.

vinous 1996

Rating: 94 –94

Very pale color. Wonderfully complex, musky aromas of minerals, ginger, lemon, earth, mushroom, smoke and brioche; with aeration, this showed sweaty saline and chicken broth notes that reminded me of Le Montrachet, as well as a captivating topnote of fresh rose petal. Fat, ripe and mouthfilling without being at all heavy. Loaded with flavor and long and delicious on the aftertaste. In the same quality league as the superb '95, but does it have the grip of that wine? I should note that some other tasters report having bottles more in the backward, structured style of this vintage.

vinous 1982

Rating: 97 –97

Both 1982 Champagnes are utterly spellbinding. It is amazing to taste these wines at 30 years of age and see that their signatures are all very much intact. Of course, the magnum format is so ideal for Champagne. The 1982 Krug Vintage is warm, toasty and totally expressive, with gorgeous exotic orange peel and white truffle overtones. This is one of my very favorite Krug vintages. Although fully mature, the 1982 is going to continue to develop at a glacial pace. The 1982 Dom Pérignon is just a little more focused and vibrant in style. Here it is the wine’s salivating minerality that really sings. It, too, is quite youthful and vibrant for its age. What a flight.

vinous 1982

Rating: 95 –95

A bevy of Dom Pérignons followed. The more I taste DP the more I am convinced that the most consistently reliable bottlings are impeccably well-stored original releases, rather than the far pricier Œnothèque series. The 1995 Dom Pérignon was subtle yet expressive, with an attractive smokiness on the finish. The 1982 Dom Pérignon, tasted from magnum, was decidedly richer in its powerful, honeyed fruit.

vinous 1988

Rating: 94 –94

An unexpected treat, the 1988 Dom Pérignon is a fabulous surprise. Here the flavors are bright, focused and tense, with attractive floral and citrus notes that cut through the richness of the chilled lobster appetizer.

vinous 1988

Rating: 94 –94

The 1988 Dom Pérignon, tasted from magnum, showed of pretty layers of fruit with lovely fragrance and compact yet utterly refined personality.

vinous 1988

Rating: 94 –94

The 1988 Dom Pérignon was an appropriately exuberant wine with which to kick off the evening. This harmonious, mellowed Champagne offered a compelling array of typical mature DP aromas and flavors supported by vibrant minerality.

vinous 1992

Rating: 91 –91

Very fine aromas of quinine, lemon, lime, minerals and gingery; lightly musky suggestion of yeast autolysis. Very intensely flavored and solidly structured but already quite accessible and open to inspection. Slightly aggressive finish shows excellent persistence. Doesn't offer the complexity or grip of the best D.P. vintages, but this is ripe and delicious wine.

vinous 1975

Rating: 97 –97

The 1975 Dom Pérignon (Original Release) is fabulous. Rich, explosive and incredibly inviting, the 1975 possesses magnificent depth and pedigree to burn. The very first hints of aromatic nuance are starting to develop in a wine that comes across as remarkably youthful. Over the course of several hours, the 1975 loses some of its intensity, but it remains superb. This is a tremendous showing.

vinous 1975

Rating: 97 –97

The 1975 Dom Perignon (magnum) was exuberant, seductive and fresh. This was a wonderful bottle.

vinous 1975

Rating: 94 –94

The 1975 Dom Pérignon (original release) from magnum, was harmonious and remarkably complete in an expression that balanced some of the more advanced nuances one might expect from a wine of its age while maintaining remarkable freshness. If anyone needed to be convinced why Champagne is ideally purchased in magnum, this wine provided a compelling argument.

robert_parker 2013

Rating: 95 –95

Disgorged in October last year, the 2013 Dom Pérignon is a lovely wine, defined by the long, cool growing season. Offering up aromas of crisp stone fruit, tangerine oil, buttered toast, pear, almonds and clear honey, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and seamless, with bright acids and a pillowy, enveloping profile, concluding with a long, saline finish. Vincent Chaperon recalls that shatter at fruit set moderated yields and that a drying east wind in the weeks before harvest helped to maintain the good sanitation necessary to wait to pick at full maturity.

robert_parker 2013

Rating: 95 –95

Disgorged in October 2022, the 2013 Dom Pérignon is a charming and elegant vintage for this cuvée. It reveals complex aromas of buttery pastry, spices, citrus oil, almonds, honey and, with aeration, a touch of smoke. The palate is medium to full-bodied, perfectly balanced, with a chiseled and tightly wound profile. The long, cool growing season has brought freshness and a delicate earthy note to the finish.

robert_parker 2012

Rating: 96 –96

The 2012 Dom Pérignon is developing very nicely on cork, exhibiting a complex bouquet of pear, confit citrus fruits, honeycomb, buttered toast, iodine and nuts framed by a deft touch of youthful reduction. Full-bodied, rich and muscular, with a layered core of fruit and a pillowy mousse, it's a vinous, vibrant Champagne that concludes with a saline finish.

robert_parker 2012

Rating: 96 –96

The 2012 Dom Pérignon has turned out very well indeed, unwinding in the glass with notes of Anjou pear, smoke, toasted nuts, freshly baked bread and crisp stone fruit. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's still tightly wound, its incipiently fleshy core of fruit framed by racy acids and chalky grip, complemented by a classy pinpoint mousse. A touch drier and a touch less reductive than the 2008 out of the gates, these two vintages are clearly destined to be compared for some time to come; but at this early stage, my instinct is that the 2012 will have the edge in the long term.

robert_parker 2010

Rating: 92 –92

A charming, demonstrative vintage for this cuvée, the 2010 Dom Pérignon bursts with notes of mandarin, golden orchard fruit, toasted bread, almonds and petrol. Medium to full-bodied, rabid and ample, with a fleshy core of fruit and an open-knit, giving style, it has taken on a bit of texture since I last tasted it, but it remains fundamentally forward and immediate.

robert_parker 2010

Rating: 92 –92

The 2010 Dom Pérignon is already expressive, wafting from the glass with aromas of crisp green apple, peach, iodine, freshly baked bread, orange oil and smoke. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and charming, it's soft and round, with ripe acids, a moderately concentrated core of fruit and a pearly mousse, concluding with a saline finish. Open-knit and pretty, this is a giving Dom Pérignon that readers might think of as reminiscent of a less reductive version of the 2000 vintage.

robert_parker 2009

Rating: 93 –93

The 2009 Dom Pérignon is already drinking well, exhibiting expressive aromas of ripe apple, peach, Meyer lemon, marzipan and dried white flowers that are framed by the classic nutty, autolytic notes that so often define this cuvée. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a broad attack, a brisk and refined mousse, appreciable dry extract and a notably saline finish. While this is a comparatively ample, gourmand vintage of Dom Pérignon, there's sufficient concentration and structural tension—which has become more apparent with a bit of bottle age—to suggest that this may be surprisingly long lived.

robert_parker 2009

Rating: 93 –93

Aromas of fresh brioche, green pear, waxy citrus rind, iodine and subtly autolytic top notes mingle in an inviting bouquet, introducing the 2009 Dom Pérignon. It's a medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy wine that's rich and textural, with good concentration and lively acids despite being the ripest rendition in the history of this cuvée. As I wrote earlier this year, while the wine is open and enveloping, there's also enough energy and structure here to promise good mid-term aging potential, something that becomes more apparent as the wine loses a little puppy fat.

robert_parker 2008

Rating: 96 –96

The finest release of this iconic cuvée since the 1996 vintage, the 2008 Dom Pérignon wafts from the glass with an incipiently complex bouquet of Meyer lemon, green apple, dried white flowers and oyster shell, with only subtle hints of the smoky, autolytic aromas that have been such a prominent signature of recent releases. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and complete, its notable flesh and amplitude controlled by incisive acids, with a youthfully exuberant but elegant mousse and a long, beautifully delineated finish. Considering the sheer size of this cuvée, it's a remarkable achievement and a fitting release with which to conclude Richard Geoffroy's tenure as chef de cave. Given the 2008's intensity and balance, I suspect purists will be anticipating later disgorgements with lower dosage and more time on the lees with particular enthusiasm. Tasted three times, with consistent results.

robert_parker 2008

Rating: 96 –96

Unquestionably the finest Dom Pérignon of the decade, the 2008 Dom Pérignon is drinking brilliantly today, wafting from the glass with notes of citrus oil, ripe orchard fruit, peach, buttered toast, pastry cream, iodine and smoky reduction. Full-bodied, rich and fleshy, it's vinous and layered, with a deep core of sweet fruit, racy acids and a long, saline finish. The 2008 is aging very gracefully.

robert_parker 2008

Rating: 95 –95

The 2008 Dom Pérignon continues to show very well, offering up a pretty bouquet of Anjou pear, fresh peach, citrus oil, fresh pastry, smoke and iodine. On the palate, it's full-bodied, lively and incisive, with an elegantly textural attack and a creamy core of fruit that's underpinned by a bright but nicely integrated spine of acidity. The finish is long, saline and well-defined. As I wrote earlier this year, this is the finest Dom Pérignon since 1996, Richard Geoffroy's push for additional ripeness working well with the late-maturing, high-acid vintage. While it can be appreciated young, the 2008 will really start to blossom with five or six years of bottle age.

robert_parker 2006

Rating: 96 –96

The 2006 Dom Pérignon comes from a very rich vintage with an early ripeness that brought a lot of aromatic maturity. The white-golden prestige cuvée contains a bit more Chardonnay than Pinot Noir and opens with a deep and seductive, pretty accessible nose with intense yet fresh fruit aromas of pineapples, with peaches and tangerines. Lively and elegant on the palate, this is a full-bodied, unusually aromatic and fruity DP with a long and tension-filled expression.

robert_parker 2005

Rating: 93 –93

The 2005 Dom Pérignon has a brilliant white-golden color and is intense on the yeasty nose, where vegetal aromas along with almond and rather discreet fruit flavors are displayed, before they intensify and become more rich. Firm, fresh and elegant, this is a full-bodied, complex and pretty rich, well concentrated and creamy-textured DP with a tightly woven structure; it has a still somewhat edgy finish. There is bit more Pinot Noir than usual in this blend, whereas the produced quantity is relatively low. Due to strict selections, just the half of the normal quantity was produced.

robert_parker 2004

Rating: 92 –92

The 2004 Dom Pérignon is from a classic vintage and a very generous year in terms of yields. White-golden in color, the clear, discreet and subtle nose gives way to dried white rather than yellow fruits, raisins and hazelnuts, as well as to floral and herbal aromas. Less generous and concentrated in the mouth than the 2005 and austerely dry at the moment, the 2004 shows its great finesse and characteristic minerality. There should be a better point of time to praise its class, so trust and keep it!

robert_parker 2004

Rating: 95 –95

Lily-of-the-valley perfume and scents of lightly toasted brioche and almond rise from the glass of Moet’s 2004 Brut Dom Perignon, along with hints of the apricot, pear and grapefruit that then inform a luscious and creamy yet strikingly delicate as well as consummately refreshing palate. Sweet-saline savor of scallop – also already intimated in the nose – lends compulsive saliva-inducement to a ravishingly rarified and persistent finish, joined by alkaline, nutty, liquid-floral, and nori seaweed notes for a performance of head-scratching subtlety and intrigue. (In case my description hasn’t already made clear, we have here inter alia a fantastic sushi wine.) This will be worth following for at least the next 6-8 years, in the course of demonstrating that iconic status as a luxury brand, and elevated (albeit secret) production numbers by no means preclude a wine of understated as well as profound beauty. Imported by Moet Hennessy, New York, NY; tel. (212) 251-8200

robert_parker 2004

Rating: 94 –94

The 2004 Dom Pérignon wafts from the glass with notions of freshly baked bread, crisp yellow orchard fruit, honeycomb and iodine. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied and open-knit but incisive, with a textural attack, an elegant pinpoint mousse and attractive purity. Between the rich, ripe 2002 and the powerful but racy 2008, the 2004 is an excellent but more classically proportioned example of Dom Pérignon.

robert_parker 2004

Rating: 94 –94

The 2004 Dom Pérignon is one of the more reductive, autolytic vintages of this wine to have been released in the last decade, offering up a toasty bouquet of pears, green apple, iodine, peach and smoke. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, satiny textured and fleshy, with a sweet core of fruit, a fine mousse and a vinous profile. The 2004 is drinking well today: as I wrote earlier this year, between the rich, ripe 2002 and the powerful but racy 2008, the 2004 is an excellent but more classically proportioned example of Dom Pérignon.

robert_parker 2003

Rating: 93 –93

The 2003 Dom Pérignon is maturing very gracefully in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of smoke, bread dough, waxy lemon rind and confit citrus. On the palate, the wine is ample, vinous and full-bodied but retains excellent definition, and it's structured around chewy dry extract from mature skins, which compensates for its comparative lack of acidity. It will be interesting to follow its evolution over the coming decade.

robert_parker 2003

Rating: 94 –94

Unfortunately there is only one new release from Dom Perignon this year. The 2003 is one of the most unusual Dom Perignons I have ever tasted, going back to 1952. Readers will remember that 2003 was a torrid vintage across northern Europe, especially during the critical month of August, when temperatures remained very hot for well over a month. The harvest was the earliest on record, until 2011, that is. I suppose its not that surprising Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy chose to make a 2003 Dom Perignon, given his penchant for risk-taking, an approach that has yielded so many memorable wines that stretch the perception of what big brand Champagne is and can be. The 2003 Dom Perignon is a big, broad shouldered wine. It does not have the seductiveness of the 2000, nor the power of the 2002. It is instead very much its own wine. In 2003 Geoffroy elected to use more Pinot Noir than is typically the case, and that comes through in the wine’s breath and volume. The 2003 is a big, powerful Champagne that will require quite a bit of time to shed some of its baby fat. The trademark textural finesse is there, though. I expect the 2003 to be a highly divisive Champagne because of its extreme personality, but then again, many of the world’s legendary wines were made from vintages considered freakish at the time. The 2003 is an atypically, rich, powerful, vinous Dom Perignon loaded with fruit, structure and personality. It is not for the timid, but rather it is a wine for those who can be patient. No one has a crystal ball, but personally I will not be surprised if in 20 years’ time the 2003 is considered an iconic Champagne. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2038. Importer: Moet Hennessy USA, New York, NY; tel. (212) 251-8200

robert_parker 2002

Rating: 96 –96

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 Released summer 2010.

robert_parker 2002

Rating: 96 –96

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. 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 the somewhat burned, dehydrated fruit that came in that year. This bottle was disgorged in July, 2009. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2032. Four new releases of the flagship Dom Perignon are the highlights among these Champagnes from Moet & Chandon. There is a timeless elegance about Dom Perignon that I find comforting and reassuring, like a favorite restaurant or food. For that reason, nothing could have prepared me for the Champagnes I tasted recently with Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy. While the 2002 Dom Perignon and 1996 Dom Perignon OEenotheque are both for the most part representative of what readers have come to expect from this house, the 2000 Dom Perignon Rose and 1990 Dom Perignon Rose OEenotheque are wines that push the envelope and push it hard. I can’t think of another winemaker at a Grande Marque who is willing to take these kinds of risks by turning well-established conventions on their head. Much of what I tasted reminded me of the experimental, searching spirit that defines so many of the smaller-production, artisan Champagnes being made today. As the saying goes ‘no guts no glory’ and there is plenty of both here. These wines are nothing short of magnificent. Importer: Moet Hennessy USA, New York, NY; tel. (212) 251-8200

robert_parker 2002

Rating: 95 –95

Tasted at Pazo in Baltimore then in London with consistent notes. “Crystalline.” That is the adjective that popped into my head as soon as I sipped the latest release of Dom Perignon. The nose is tensile and minerally, with hints of jasmine and then apricot blossom and Japanese yuzu. The palate is finely toned, very focused, powerful yet light on its feet with delicate traces of apricot and Seville orange complementing a sense of mineralite reminiscent of the 1996. A feminine, graceful, ethereal Dom Perignon whose beauty made a gang of Chateauneufs blush with unrequited ardour. The ’02 DP is difficult to resist now, but will surely age beautifully over 20-30 years. Drink now-2035. Tasted October 2010.

robert_parker 2000

Rating: 94 –94

The 2000 Brut Dom Perignon is a gorgeous, seductive wine that floats on the palate with remarkable grace. Toasty aromas meld into freshly cut flowers, apricots and pears, with sweet notes of mint and licorice that linger on the long finish. This perfumed, inviting Dom Perignon is elegance personified, and in this vintage the wine fully merits its lofty reputation. According to winemaker Vincent Chaperone there is only one disgorgement date for the first release of Dom Perignon, and the 2000 was disgorged over a period of weeks in March and April, 2007, 2007. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018. Moet & Chandon is one of Champagne’s giants when it comes to the sheer number of bottles that emerge from its cellars each year. The house’s top wine, Dom Perignon, is quite possibly the most iconic wine in Champagne, and perhaps the world. Production numbers are always kept close to the vest, but that notwithstanding, it is impossible to ignore the exceptional quality that the best vintages offer. At its best Dom Perignon is also an extremely ageworthy wine. In recent years Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy has instituted a program of re-releasing newly disgorged wines under the OEnotheque program. Younger vintages see a second release (also known as second plenitude), while some of the older, classic vintages from the 1970s are on their third release (also known as third plenitude). While the OEnotheques, particularly the third releases, can be very pricey, at their finest they offer an extraordinary,otherworldly drinking experience matched by few wines in the world. Although Moet & Chandon doesn't disclose disgorgement dates, Geoffroy is considering adding that information in the near future. An article covering a number older vintages of Dom Perignon will appear soon on www.erobertparker.com Importer: Moet Hennessy USA, New York, NY; tel. (212) 251-8200

robert_parker 2000

Rating: 92 –92

Pale to medium lemon-straw colour. Forward, toasted nut, brioche and warm strawberry nose complimented by a seductive honeysuckle and spice perfume with exotic hints of coriander seeds and candied ginger. The palate is big, rich and very biscuity. Medium to high acidity gives ample freshness without too much edge – highly approachable. Small, persistent bubbles and a long toasty finish. Drink now to 2020. Tasted October and December 2008.

robert_parker 2000

Rating: 94 –94

The 2000 Dom Perignon is a gorgeous, seductive wine that floats on the palate with remarkable grace. Toasty aromas meld into freshly cut flowers, apricots and pears, with sweet notes of mint and licorice that linger on the long finish. This perfumed, inviting Dom Perignon is elegance personified, and in this vintage the wine fully merits its lofty reputation. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.

robert_parker 1998

Rating: 92 –92

The 1998 Dom Perignon comes across as somewhat two–dimensional and lacking the sheer cut of the 2000. There is plenty of ripeness in the fruit, but not quite the definition and verve of the finest vintages. This looks to be a relatively early-drinking Dom Perignon. Geoffroy adds that the estate may have waited a bit too long to pick certain parcels in 1998. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.

robert_parker 1998

Rating: 89 –91

A clear hue. A simple, exuberant nose of apple, brioche and a touch of biscuit. Very well balanced: forward and inviting, not a cerebral wine but one designed to celebrate with. Touch of clear honey on the finish. Drinking now, will not be a long-term DP. Pop the cork and quaff it down. Tasted June 2006.

robert_parker 1998

Rating: 92 –92

A stronger vintage than expected, the 1998 Dom Perignon exhibits aromas and flavors of lemon oil, orange rind, and brioche in a medium-bodied, zesty, rich, moderately intense style. It is far superior to either the 1993 or 1992. Readers should remember that the 1971 Dom Perignon Rose is still drinking exquisitely. I recently had the 1969 and 1970 Dom Perignons (from magnum), and both were drinking brilliantly. It makes one realize just how long-lived these wines can be. Production is confidential, but there must be hundreds of thousands of cases of Dom Perignon since it available in most of the world’s luxury hotels and restaurants. Importer: Moet-Hennessy, USA, New York, NY; tel. (212) 251-8200.

robert_parker 1996

Rating: 96 –96

The nose gives intense toasty, biscuity notes with an underlying fruit character of warm strawberries, golden delicious apple slices, oyster shells and chalk dust. Very crisp, fine, youthful and fresh in the mouth, the finish provides layers of minerals, citrus fruits and a pleasant creaminess in texture and flavour.

robert_parker 1996

Rating: 95 –95

The 1996 Dom Perignon shows all of the classic notes of this wine in an exuberant, big style. Smoke, spices and roasted nuts are some of the nuances that emerge from this classy and very complete Dom Perignon.

robert_parker 1996

Rating: 95 –95

The 1996 Dom Perignon is superb. Layers of roasted nuts, spices, tar, smoke, acacia blossoms and a light touch of honey emerge from the glass, adding complexity to the fruit. This large-scaled Dom Perignon is currently in a beautiful place where early tertiary notes have begun to appear, yet the wine retains plenty of freshness. This is a terrific Dom Perignon that can be enjoyed today but that also promises much pleasure for the future. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2029.

robert_parker 1996

Rating: 97 –97

Three 1996s from Dom Perignon are special. After having compared original releases and OEnotheque bottlings across a number of vintages going back to 1964, I am increasingly of the belief that the most enjoyable Dom Perignons are impeccably stored bottles of the original release. The 1996 Vintage is coming along quite nicely. Early notes of tertiary complexity have begun to appear, adding considerable richness and breadth. This remains a Champagne of fabulous elegance that will offer highly rewarding drinking for decades.

robert_parker 1996

Rating: 98 –98

The brilliant 1996 Dom Perignon, which has largely disappeared from the marketplace, may be the finest young example of DP I have ever tasted. Notes of crushed rocks, honeysuckle, lemon oil, orange marmalade, and white pear provide a stunning aromatic display as well as palate impression. Great acidity and huge flavor intensity backed up by vibrant acidity make this an exquisite Champagne. It should drink well for 20-25 years, possibly longer. Readers should remember that the 1971 Dom Perignon Rose is still drinking exquisitely. I recently had the 1969 and 1970 Dom Perignons (from magnum), and both were drinking brilliantly. It makes one realize just how long-lived these wines can be. Production is confidential, but there must be hundreds of thousands of cases of Dom Perignon since it available in most of the world’s luxury hotels and restaurants. Importer: Moet-Hennessy, USA, New York, NY; tel. (212) 251-8200.

robert_parker 1996

Rating: 98 –98

I have had a lot of great vintages of Dom Perignon, but I do not remember any as impressive as the 1996. Even richer than the brilliant 1990, the 1996 is still tightly wound, but reveals tremendous aromatic intensity, offering hints of bread dough, Wheat Thins, tropical fruits, and roasted hazelnuts. Medium to full-bodied, with crisp acidity buttressing the wines wealth of fruit and intensity, it comes across as extraordinarly zesty, well-delineated, and incredibly long on the palate. Moet-Chandon deserves considerable accolades for this prodigious example of Dom Perignon. Anticipated maturity: now-2020+

robert_parker 1995

Rating: 92 –94

Very ripe creamy nose. Perhaps too much oak here? Palate though is very smooth and stylish. Good weight. Not complex but effortless drinking now. Excellent. Tasted December 2002.

robert_parker 1995

Rating: 94 –94

This wine was recommended, but no tasting note was given.

robert_parker 1990

Rating: 98 –98

Medium lemon-straw colour. Intensely fragrant nose with aromas of jasmine, cinnamon buttered toast, stewed apples and preserved ginger. Concentrated honey-nut, warm apple tart and spice flavours fill the mouth giving ample flesh to the firm, fine structure. The bubbles are still remarkably frisky and, in harmony with the crisp backbone of acid, make for a relatively youthful, elegant and exquisitely balanced wine. Very long finish. Drink now to 2015. Tasted December 2008.

robert_parker 1990

Rating: 93 –93

A moderate greeny/gold hue with a mousse, languid rather than lively. The nose is certainly developing a smorgasbord of secondary aromas: hay bales, cut grass, a touch of clear honey and lanolin. The palate is well balanced, perhaps a little low in acidity for my liking, but comes across elegant and harmonious. The mid-palate is more pear, a little grassy perhaps but the finish is more citrus fruits and a faint tang of lanolin and petrol. Drinking perfectly now. Tasted June 2007. Drinking now-2015

robert_parker 1990

Rating: 96 –96

The profoundly rich 1990 Dom Perignon is a creamy-textured, full styled offering that loses none of its elegance in spite of its flavor authority. It will improve for 5-10 years, and appears capable of surpassing the fabulous 1985 and 1982. It seems obvious that the quality of the 1990 Champagne vintage is going to be remarkable, and the world-wide demand will be unprecedented. The message - buy them now! Importer: Schieffelin & Somerset, New York, NY; tel. (212) 251-8337.

robert_parker 1988

Rating: 93 –93

No tasting note.

robert_parker 1985

Rating: 94 –96

Greeny gold hue. An aromatic, almost herbaceous nose with greengage and honeysuckle - very complex. Palate is rich and fresh with notes of grass, apple and honey. This is a big, flamboyant champagne. Very long although the 1990 has a bit more style in my humble opinion. Tasted May 2002.

robert_parker 1985

Rating: 95 –95

Drunk from a pristinely preserved original disgorgement, the 1985 Dom Pérignon is inviting and exuberant, bursting with aromas of apples, pears, buttered toast, orange oil, tarte tatin and smoke. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and pillowy, with a generous core of fruit, ripe but racy acids and a refined mousse. This bottle ranked a step behind a sublime magnum of this cuvée's P3 rendition that I enjoyed earlier in the year, but it was nonetheless an exquisite Champagne. In both cases, the 1985 is in its prime, so now is a great time to open bottles.

robert_parker 1985

Rating: 96 –96

No tasting note.

robert_parker 1982

Rating: 96 –96

No tasting note.

robert_parker 1976

Rating: 96 –96

(Original Release). The 1976-Dom Perignon (Original Release) was a revelation. It showed the lightest color in this flight, which could have been taken as a clue. It showed unreal freshness and vibrancy, with soaring aromatics and notes of white peaches and jasmine. It was a totally seductive wine.

robert_parker 1976

Rating: 96 –96

From an impeccably conserved original disgorgement, the 1976 Dom Pérignon is showing brilliantly, offering up aromas of praline, confit citrus, toasted bread, beeswax and subtle hints of mocha. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, broad and vinous, with fine depth at the core, lively acids and a long, sapid finish, complemented by a healthy but ultra-fine mousse. The product of a dry, compressed growing season, the harvest for Dom Pérignon began on September 1.

robert_parker 1966

Rating: 92 –92

This perfectly conserved bottle of the 1966 Dom Pérignon showed some wispy carbon dioxide on opening, which is always a positive sign, and revealed a rich and tertiary bouquet of dried fruits, mocha, toasted nuts and saffron. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, with considerable muscle and concentration, a vestigial mousse and a bright spine of structuring acidity. Though this original disgorgement is tiring, there's still no fraying on the finish. While in 750-milliliter bottles, the 1966 Dom Pérignon seems to be in gentle decline, at least based on the last few bottles I have encountered, magnums—or anything stored in a glacial cellar—might still be very interesting indeed.

robert_parker 1961

Rating: 97 –97

It isn't easy to find pristine examples of the 1961 Dom Pérignon from the original disgorgment, and many bottles are getting a little long in the tooth, but this has the potential to be an absolutely magical old Champagne. Soaring from the glass with a deep and complex bouquet of toasted nuts, honeycomb, dried fruits, ripe peach and mocha, this bottle—from a cold French cellar—was full-bodied, textural and enveloping, with superb depth at the core, racy acids and chalky back-end grip on the long, resonant finish. The 1961 Dom Pérignon ranks as one of René Philipponnat's greatest hits during his time as Moët's chef des caves.

vinous 1990

Rating: 93 –93

Pale color. Youthful aromas of lemon, quince, pear, toast, spice, chalk and red berries. Big, sweet and seamless, if a bit clenched in the early going. A powerful, very young wine whose fruit builds slowly in the mouth and explodes on the finish. A charry note contributes to its complexity. Possesses amazing depth of fruit, but the high quality of this wine can most easily be seen today on the extraordinary finish. May ultimately merit a 95+ rating.

vinous 1993

Rating: 91 –91

Understated, pure aromas of musky stone, orange, smoke and truffle. Full, ripe and harmonious; not a huge or superconcentrated wine but quite subtle and fine, with brisk, juicy flavors of orange and minerals. Lingering, ripe finish.

vinous 1993

Rating: 91 –91

Green-tinged color. Vibrant, rather austere aromas of lime, mint, licorice and minerals. Bright, fresh and pure in the mouth; youthful flavors of lemon, lime, orange zest and mint. Rather elegantly styled, with very good but not outstanding depth (in the style of the 1993 vintage) and subtle persistence.

vinous 1995

Rating: 94 –94

A bevy of Dom Pérignons followed. The more I taste DP the more I am convinced that the most consistently reliable bottlings are impeccably well-stored original releases, rather than the far pricier Œnothèque series. The 1995 Dom Pérignon was subtle yet expressive, with an attractive smokiness on the finish.

vinous 1995

Rating: 96 –96

The 1995 Dom Pérignon (from jeroboam) was profound. In 1995 the jeroboams were disgorged a little later than the 750s, so in this format the wine is in reality very close to the Œnothèque bottling. A sensual, sumptuous Champagne, the 1995 Dom Pérignon exploded onto the palate with a full-throttle expression of dense, ripe fruit. This was a remarkable bottle in every way. Readers lucky enough to own the 1995 Dom Pérignon in jeroboam are in for a thrilling ride!

vinous 1995

Rating: 95 –95

Wonderfully subtle, complex aromas of white flowers, acacia honey, minerals, nuts and mushroom, with musky and leesy nuances. Oily, rich and smoky but with terrific verve and lift. Quite substantial and chewy for a young D.P. but not at all heavy. Yellow plum and strong soil tones in the middle and on the palate-staining finish. Offers a rare combination of richness and finesse.

vinous 1999

Rating: 93 –93

These four vintages of Dom Pérignon provide a fascinating snapshot of how the house has performed in recent years. The 1999 Dom Pérignon is a little flabbier than the 2000. Smoke, toastiness, tar and ripe fruit emerge from the glass in a generous, expansive style. The 1999 offers more body than the 2000 but the aromas and flavors are less well-articulated. This is a relatively simple Dom Pérignon, yet the wine possesses outstanding balance and plenty of harmony. According to Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy the warm vintage also resulted in relatively high yields, and the low-acid style is most reminiscent of the 1976.

vinous 1999

Rating: 93 –93

Green-tinted gold. Tightly wound lime and pink grapefruit aromas open slowly to reveal a gently smoky mineral and floral character, with a light kiss of green cardamom adding interest. Very fresh on the palate, with youthful citrus and green apple flavors giving way to slightly riper blood orange and pear. Finishes firm and dry, with serious grip. This only hints at its potential, and I'd advise anyone drinking it for what's in the bottle rather than on the label to stash it away for at least another five years, minimum.

vinous 2000

Rating: 94 –94

The 2000 Dom Pérignon is a gorgeous wine to drink now, as it is already showing quite a bit of aromatic and flavor complexity. Although the 2000 doesn’t have the multi-dimensional personality or structure of the very best DPs, it does offer tremendous drinking pleasure today. Hints of pastry, baked apple and mint add nuance, with a touch of reduction that lends an added kick of freshness. Ultimately, the 2000 is a very drinkable and delicious Dom Pérignon.

vinous 2000

Rating: 94 –94

These four vintages of Dom Pérignon provide a fascinating snapshot of how the house has performed in recent years. The 2000 Dom Pérignon is a gorgeous, seductive wine that floats on the palate with remarkable grace. Toasty aromas meld into freshly cut flowers, apricots and pears, with sweet notes of mint and licorice that linger on the long finish. This perfumed, inviting Dom Pérignon is elegance personified, and in this vintage the wine fully merits its lofty reputation. According to winemaker Vincent Chaperone there is only one disgorgement date for the first release of Dom Pérignon, and the 2000 was disgorged over a period of weeks in March and April, 2007.

vinous 2000

Rating: 94 –94

The 2000 Dom Pérignon was absolutely delicious as it hovered on the palate in fresh, sensual style. Everything was in the right place in this elegant, refined and exceptionally well-balanced Dom Pérignon.

vinous 2000

Rating: 92 –92

Pale gold with a fine bead. Gently smoky aromas of lemon, pear, bay, buttered toast and lees. Round, lightly sweet orange and pear flavors are underscored by smoky minerals and given bite by refreshingly bitter lemon pith. Finishes with a lingering smokiness. This is drinking very well right now and offers classic DP toastiness.

vinous 2002

Rating: 98 –98

I remember the first time I tasted the 2002 Dom Pérignon with then-Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy at Hautvillers. It was the upcoming release at the time. As was his custom, Geoffroy served the 2002 in a flight that included a number of previous releases. The bouquet was immediately stunning for its audacity. I had never tasted anything like it. Two thousand-two was a year marked by extreme ripeness in the Chardonnays, and that opulence has always been a big part of the wine’s profile. Today, what strikes me most about the 2002 is its timelessness. That youthful opulence remains, yet the 2002 is still vibrant, almost shocking in its freshness. Apricot, ripe peach, tangerine oil, butter and dried flowers all build towards a captivating crescendo of aromas and flavors that saturates the finish. Readers can look forward to another two decades of exceptional drinking.

vinous 2002

Rating: 98 –98

The 2002 Dom Pérignon is unforgettable. Rich, sumptuous and flamboyant to the core, the 2002 captures all of the radiance of a year in which ripeness in the Chardonnays was pushed to the edge. The 2002 is oily and viscous on the palate, with tremendous textural resonance in all of its dimensions. Tropical fruit, pastry and exotic floral notes all build as the 2002 opens up with air. I can still remember the first time I tasted the 2002, here in the Hautvillers cloister, with former Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy. It was thrilling back then, and is every bit as memorable today.

vinous 2002

Rating: 98 –98

The 2002 Dom Pérignon speaks to opulence and intensity. Rich, layered and voluptuous in the glass, the 2002 shows off its flamboyant personality with flair. Butter, cooked apple and tropically-leaning fruits mesh together effortlessly. Interestingly, with time in the glass the 2002 gains in freshness and energy without losing its essential opulence. The elevated ripeness of the year gives the 2002 Dom Pérignon distinctly Puligny-Montrachet leaning inflections. Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy adds that August that year was hot and very dry. Rain towards the end of the month and into early September freshened the vines and accelerated the final phase of ripening. This is yet another fabulous showing from the 2002, which continues to cement its reputation as a truly epic Dom Pérignon.

vinous 2002

Rating: 98 –98

Honey, almonds, butter, tropical fruit and brioche are some of the notes that emerge in the 2002 Dom Pérignon. Here the flavors are bold, rich and exotic, as they have always been, while the textural feel is one of pure exuberance. The 2002 remains dense, honeyed and totally voluptuous on the palate, with more than enough density to drink well for decades The style will always remain opulent to the core.

vinous 2002

Rating: 98 –98

The 2002 Dom Pérignon is just beginning to enter the second stage of its life where the primary flavors are receding, but at the same time the more mature notes have not yet developed. Today, the 2002 stands out for its texture, balance and overall harmony. Hints of apricot, white flowers, honey and spices flesh out on the resonant, creamy finish.

vinous 2002

Rating: 98 –98

The 2002 Dom Pérignon awaited. A towering Champagne, the 2002 DP impressed for its statuesque personality. This was a fabulous showing from a Champagne that is well on its way to becoming a modern-day legend.

vinous 2002

Rating: 96 –96

The 2002 Dom Pérignon 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 Pérignon. 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.

vinous 2002

Rating: 96 –96

The 2002 Dom Pérignon was a great way to kick off the evening. Once again, I loved the wine’s richness, power and depth, all of which should allow the wine to age exquisitely for several decades.

vinous 2002

Light gold. High-pitched aromas of lemon pith, quince and green apple, with complicating notes of smoky minerals and chamomile. Dry, nervy and very tight, with slow-to-open citrus and orchard fruit flavors and complicating notes of white pepper and buttered toast. Boasts excellent intensity and clarity but shuts down hard on the finish, which features strong mineral and citrus zest qualities and a hint of smoky florality. I tasted this Champagne two other times this fall: one bottle behaved in a similar tart, citric fashion while the other showed more of the classic smoky, reduced character that I associate with young bottlings of Dom Perignon. As this is a fairly recent release, I would rather reserve judgment until next year.

vinous 2003

Rating: 95 –95

The 2003 Dom Pérignon is in a gorgeous place right now. To be sure, it is a powerful Champagne that reflects the personality of a year marked by frost, that took out 70% of the Chardonnay, and then record heat and drought over the summer. The 2003 is just starting to head into its first plateau of maturity. Brioche, baked apple tart, lemon confit and marzipan build into the rich, layered finish. (Originally published in May 2021)

vinous 2003

Rating: 95 –95

The 2003 Dom Pérignon is in a gorgeous place right now. To be sure, it is a powerful Champagne that reflects the personality of a year marked by frost, that took out 70% of the Chardonnay, and then record heat and drought over the summer. The 2003 is just starting to head into its first plateau of maturity. Brioche, baked apple tart, lemon confit and marzipan build into the rich, layered finish.

vinous 2003

Rating: 95 –95

The 2003 Dom Pérignon remains surprising for its body, freshness and overall intensity. A Champagne of phenolic power and resonance, the 2003 drinks well now, but also clearly has the stuffing to age. I was hardly surprised to learn that a P2 Edition will be released within the next year or so. My basic feeling about the 2003 remains the same – it is a Champagne that will only be fully appreciated down the line.

vinous 2003

Rating: 95 –95

Once again, the 2003 Dom Pérignon shows its pedigree. Ample, powerful and beautifully resonant in the glass, the 2003 is built on a core of huge fruit and serious phenolic structure, both of which make it resemble a still wine, perhaps a fine white Burgundy with a bit of bottle age. There is more than enough density to allow the 2003 to age well for a number of decades.

vinous 2003

Rating: 95 –95

As always, the 2003 Dom Pérignon has a lot to say. Bold, powerful and intensely phenolic in feel, the 2003 packs serious energy to match its explosive personality. The combined effects of a spring frost that decimated yields and a unrelentingly hot summer combined to produce one of the most powerful young Dom Pérignons I have ever tasted. The heavy presence of Pinot (62%) is felt in the wine's volume and breadth, making it one of the most vinous Dom Pérignons in recent memory. Given its structural depth, I imagine the 2003 will drink well for many, many years. Interestingly Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy adds that the 2003 was lower in sugars than the 2002, but richer in phenolics.

vinous 2003

Rating: 96 –96

The 2003 Dom Pérignon continues to improve in bottle. Rich and ample on the palate, the 2003 offers tons of density and pure resonance. There is no question the 2003 is an atypically super-sized, vinous Dom Pérignon. I also think the 2003 will drink well for many decades based on its sheer density.

vinous 2003

Rating: 94 –94

One of the most intriguing wines ever made here, the 2003 Dom Pérignon continues to fascinate. Rich, vinous and deep, the 2003 has the structure of a Pinot-based Champagne, but much of the freshness of a Blanc de Blancs. Not surprisingly, the 2003 is 62% Pinot, and all of that comes through in the wine's breadth and pure textural richness. At times, the 2003 is deep and even somber, but it is always intriguing. A bouquet laced with honey and chamomile is quite classic, but then the wine blossoms on the palate, with tons of Pinot-inflected fruit backed up by equally commanding structure. There is no question the 2003 is an extreme wine, but it is compelling just the same.

vinous 2003

Rating: 95 –95

The 2003 Dom Pérignon (magnum) is a total revelation because it is just a little bit more finessed than the same wine from bottle. How? If there is anything that is slightly not ideal in the 2003 it is the very slightest hint of dryness in the tannin that is the result of a torrid year in which full phenolic ripeness was virtually impossible to achieve. From magnum, though, that sensation is nowhere to be found. Instead, what impresses is the wine's textural purity and stunning depth. I have always thought there was a strong possibility the 2003 could turn out to be eternal, but when I taste the wine from magnum the odds go up….quite a bit. This is a fabulous Champagne from the team at Dom Pérignon headed by Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy. (Magnum)

vinous 2003

Rating: 94 –94

Unfortunately there is only one new release from Dom Perignon this year. The 2003 is one of the most unusual Dom Pérignons I have ever tasted, going back to 1952. Readers will remember that 2003 was a torrid vintage across northern Europe, especially during the critical month of August, when temperatures remained very hot for well over a month. The harvest was the earliest on record, until 2011, that is. I suppose its not that surprising Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy chose to make a 2003 Dom Pérignon, given his penchant for risk-taking, an approach that has yielded so many memorable wines that stretch the perception of what big brand Champagne is and can be. The 2003 Dom Pérignon is a big, broad shouldered wine. It does not have the seductiveness of the 2000, nor the power of the 2002. It is instead very much its own wine. In 2003 Geoffroy elected to use more Pinot Noir than is typically the case, and that comes through in the wine’s breath and volume. The 2003 is a big, powerful Champagne that will require quite a bit of time to shed some of its baby fat. The trademark textural finesse is there, though. I expect the 2003 to be a highly divisive Champagne because of its extreme personality, but then again, many of the world’s legendary wines were made from vintages considered freakish at the time. The 2003 is an atypically, rich, powerful, vinous Dom Pérignon loaded with fruit, structure and personality. It is not for the timid, but rather it is a wine for those who can be patient. No one has a crystal ball, but personally I will not be surprised if in 20 years’ time the 2003 is considered an iconic Champagne.

vinous 2004

Rating: 98 –98

The 2004 Dom Pérignon is a totally different beast. It is the product of a very long and cool growing season marked by heavy summer rains in some sectors of the region and then ideal conditions through to harvest. After a brutally torrid 2003, the vines responded by setting a huge crop. In fact, 2004 remains the most abundant vintage in the history of Champagne. The best wines, though, well, they have always impressed with their laser-like cut and focus. That’s exactly what comes through in the 2004 Dom Pérignon. Tasted from magnum, the 2004 shows all the linear energy and crystalline precision of the year, but with that extra magic that comes from fermentation and longer aging in the big bottle. The 2004 has long been one of my favorite Dom Pérignons. From magnum, it is especially captivating.

vinous 2004

Rating: 97 –97

Another stellar wine, the 2004 Dom Pérignon is just starting to show the first signs of aromatic development, as well as a bit of added weight it did not have as a young wine. The 2004 remains a bright, mid-weight DP built on persistence and length more than overt volume. I have always had a soft spot for the 2004. This tasting does nothing to dampen that enthusiasm.

vinous 2004

Rating: 97 –97

A wine of nuance, precision and understatement, the 2004 remains all grace. Time has softened some of the contours, but the flavors remain fresh and vibrant. Medium in body, the 2004 can be enjoyed now or cellared for several decades. This is a gorgeous showing from the 2004, a wine that has been captivatingly beautiful from the first time I tasted it years ago. There is something effortless about the 2004 that is hard to capture with words. The 2004 doesn't quite have the obvious breeding of the 2008 and 2002, nor the obvious power of the 2003 or 2006, and yet it is harmonious, sublime and totally sensual.

vinous 2004

Rating: 97 –97

One of the stars in this tasting, the 2004 Dom Pérignon is starting to express the potential it hinted at as a young wine. Specifically, the 2004 has gained quite a bit of volume and overall depth within the last few years. The first signs of aromatic nuance are starting to develop, which suggests the 2004 will soon enter its first plateau of maturity.

vinous 2004

Rating: 97 –97

A Champagne of crystalline precision, the 2004 Dom Pérignon once again shows off its pedigree and total class. Everything about the 2004 speaks to nuance. The flavors are bright and lifted throughout, but it is the wine's lithe, gracious shape that stands out most. Pear, slate, white flowers, sage and crushed rocks abound in a Dom Pérignon built on cool, brisk energy. Today, the 2004 is simply dazzling, with plenty of upside for the future.

vinous 2004

Rating: 97 –97

Racy, silky and vibrant in the glass, the 2004 Dom Pérignon is all about energy. Here the flavors are bright and delineated throughout, with veins of acidity and minerality that give the wine its sense of drive. Mint, rosemary and yellow-fleshed fruits linger on the finish with the classic DP reductive overtones that are such a signature. Once again, the 2004 Dom Pérignon truly shines. The 2004 Dom Pérignon is a wine to treasure over the next thirty or so years.

vinous 2004

Rating: 97 –97

Bérèche’s NV (2009) Campania Remensis Rosé and the 2004 Dom Pérignon (magnum) capture the contrasts that makes Champagne such an exciting wine. The Bérèche is rich and vinous in the glass, while the Dom Pérignon speaks to finesse. Both wines kick the night off in grand style.

vinous 2004

Rating: 97 –97

This tasting only serves to highlight just how great the 2004 Dom Pérignon is. A wine that has totally blossomed in bottle, the 2004 is firing on all cylinders right now. Rich, ample and beautifully nuanced, the 2004 has it all; expressive aromatics, deep fruit and more than enough structure to age well for decades. I have been tasting the 2004 since before it was released and it just keeps getting better and better. Today, it is stunning. It is amazing to consider that in 2004, yields were the largest ever recorded in Champagne.

vinous 2004

Rating: 96 –96

The 2004 Dom Pérignon continues to develop beautifully. A vibrant, focused Champagne, the 2004 clearly reflects the personality of the year. Freshly cut flowers, white peaches and pears are woven together in a Champagne that impresses for its focus and energy. Chiseled saline note support the crystalline finish. I imagine the 2004 will always remain relatively bright and linear, but at the same time, each time I have tasted it over the last two years the 2004 seems to have a little more body and broader shoulders. The 2004 will appeal most to readers who find the 2002 and 2003 too exuberant. There is a lot to like in the glass.

vinous 2004

Rating: 94 –94

Vivid yellow. High-pitched, mineral-accented aromas of pear, Meyer lemon, quince and jasmine, with smoke and toasted grain qualities adding bass notes. Spicy, penetrating and pure, boasting impressive vivacity to its fresh orchard and citrus fruit flavors. Gains weight and breadth with air while maintaining vivacity, picking up a gingery nuance that carries through a long, smoky finish. I'd bet on this taut, youthful Champagne rewarding many more years of patience.

vinous 2005

Rating: 94 –94

The 2005 Dom Pérignon is starting to enter its first plateau of maturity, where the aromas and flavors show the early signs of the development that takes place over time in bottle. Apricot, candied orange peel, dried flowers, mint and pineapple are nicely delineated in the glass. Soft and silky on the palate, the 2005 is quite welcoming and inviting.

vinous 2005

Rating: 94 –94

The 2005 Dom Pérignon is just starting to enter its first plateau of maturity, as the aromas and flavors now show the complexity and nuance of a wine that has been in bottle for a number of years. Dried apricot, smoke, dried flowers, orange peel, almond and chamomile give the 2005 its signature flavor profile. More mature hazelnut and coffee notes aren’t too far away. Today, it is the wine’s density that is most surprising, but that should allow the wine to age gracefully for many years to come.

vinous 2005

Rating: 94 –94

The 2005 Dom Pérignon is a festive way to kick off our 2005 Bordeaux retrospective. Fresh and vibrant, with the classic hints of DP reduction, the 2005 is super-expressive tonight. Although not one of the truly epic Dom Pérignons, the 2005 offers lovely energy, while its mid-weight personality makes it an excellent choice for current drinking. The bright, precise style is the perfect complement to David Bouley's hors d'oeuvres.

vinous 2005

Rating: 94 –94

The 2005 Dom Pérignon is lifted and precise throughout, with a classy, understated personality to match. Pear, apple, mint and white flowers are laced together in a finely-knit fabric of pure class. Two thousand five was a challenging vintage because of rot issues, especially in Pinot Noir. As a result, the 2005 Dom Pérignon is more than 60% Chardonnay, which is quite unusual. Soft, and open-knit, the 2005 is the most complete Dom Pérignon for drinking now among recent vintages. I suspect the 2005 will also have a shorter arc of life next to some of the truly epic wines that surround it.

vinous 2005

Rating: 95 –95

The 2005 Dom Pérignon is incredibly delicate, understated and silky, with gorgeous textural balance and class. Today, the 2005 comes across as a smaller-scaled version of the 2004 in that it is a Dom Pérignon built on finesse rather than the power that characterizes vintages such as 2002 and 2003. Today, the 2005 is a bit inward and not fully expressive, which is a good sign for the future. Still, given its mid-weight structure and previous showings, my impression is that the 2005 is best suited to near and medium-term drinking. Then again, Dom Pérignon has a brilliant track record for aging. Any way you look at it, though, there is little question Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy made one of the two or three Champagne of the vintage in 2005. As I have written previously, 2005 will be a very small release by Dom Pérignon standards. So much so, that the 2006 is likely to be released by the end of 2015.

vinous 2005

Rating: 95 –95

The 2005 Dom Pérignon opens with the classic Dom Pérignon bouquet. Warm toasty notes meld into expressive fruit in a supple, silky Champagne endowed with stunning depth, nuance and complexity. Sweet floral notes add lift as the wine opens up in the glass. Overall, the 2005 is a relatively delicate, gracious DP, but what it lacks in depth it more than makes up with persistence and its open, totally inviting personality. Today it's hard to see the 2005 making old bones, but it is a gorgeous wine to drink while the 2004 ages. In 2005, the release is scheduled to last about six months, which means production is down around 50% over normal levels. All I can say is the 2005 is fabulous, especially in a vintage that required considerable sorting to eliminate rampant rot in the Pinots.

vinous 2006

Rating: 96 –96

Powerful, dense and tightly wound, the 2006 Dom Pérignon is fabulous today. To be sure, the 2006 is a broad, virile Champagne, but I find it compelling because of its phenolic depth and overall intensity. Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy adds that August was quite cold and wet, and that ripening only happened at the very end of the growing season. Although numbers alone can never explain a wine, I find it interesting that the 2006 has more phenolics than the 2003. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2006 is easily the most reticent Dom Pérignon in the years spanning 2002 and 2009. I am confident the 2006 will have its day, but in its youth, it is not especially charming or easy to drink.

vinous 2006

Rating: 96 –96

One of the real surprises in this tasting, the 2006 Dom Pérignon comes across as very tightly wound and intense, which is probably a very good thing for its potential longevity. The sensation of tannins is quite present today. Ripe and intense but also held in check by its tannic heft, the 2006 is in no mood to show all of its cards. Stylistically, the 2006 is similar to the 2003 in its phenolic intensity, but more finessed. Readers should be in no rush with the 2006, a Champagne that has closed down quite a bit since it was first released.

vinous 2006

Rating: 97 –97

The 2006 Dom Pérignon is a beautifully balanced, harmonious Dom Pérignon that strikes an incredibly appealing stylistic middle ground. Rich, voluptuous and creamy, the 2006 shows off fabulous intensity in a style that brings together the ripeness of 2002 with the greater sense of verve and overall freshness that is such a signature of the 2004. Bass notes and a feeling of phenolic grip on the finish recall the 2003, as the Pinot Noir is particularly expressive today. After an irregular summer that saw elevated temperatures in July followed by cooler, damp conditions in August, more favorable weather returned in September, pushing maturation ahead and leading to a long, protracted harvest. The 2006 falls into the family of riper, more voluptuous Dom Pérignons, but without veering into the level of opulence seen in vintages such as 2002.

vinous 2008

Rating: 98 –98

The 2008 Dom Pérignon is a huge, powerful Champagne and also clearly one of the wines of the vintage. This is one of the most reticent bottles I have tasted. So much so that I am thinking about holding off opening any more bottles! The 2008 has always offered a striking interplay of fruit and structure. Today, the richness of the fruit is especially evident. Readers who own the 2008 should be thrilled, but patience is a must. (Originally published in May 2021)

vinous 2008

Rating: 98 –98

The 2008 Dom Pérignon is a huge, powerful Champagne and also clearly one of the wines of the vintage. This is one of the most reticent bottles I have tasted. So much so that I am thinking about holding off opening any more bottles! The 2008 has always offered a striking interplay of fruit and structure. Today, the richness of the fruit is especially evident. Readers who own the 2008 should be thrilled, but patience is a must.

vinous 2008

Rating: 98 –98

The 2008 Dom Pérignon is once again stunning. More than anything else, I am surprised by how well the 2008 drinks given all the tension and energy it holds. Then again, that is precisely what makes 2008 such a unique vintage – namely that the best wines are so chiseled and yet not at all austere. Lemon peel, almond, mint, smoke and crushed rocks are all finely sculpted, but it is the wine’s textural feel, drive and persistence that elevate it into the realm of the sublime. The 2008 will be even better with time in the cellar, but it is absolutely phenomenal even today, in the early going. Three recent bottles have all been nothing short of magnificent.

vinous 2008

Rating: 98 –98

The 2008 Dom Pérignon is fabulous, but quite remarkably, it was even more open when I tasted it a year ago. Bright, focused and crystalline in its precision, the 2008 is going to need a number of years before it is at its best. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and white pepper give the 2008 its chiseled, bright profile. Several recent bottles have all been magnificent. What I admire most about the 2008 is the way it shows all the focus, translucence and energy that is such a signature of the year, and yet it is also remarkably deep and vertical. In other words, the 2008 is a Champagne that plays in three dimensions.

vinous 2008

Rating: 98 –98

The 2008 Dom Pérignon is simply extraordinary. A wine of myriad dimensions, the 2008 explodes in all directions from the very first taste. Deep, powerful and yet wonderfully translucent, the 2008 boasts remarkable purity throughout. Crushed rocks, citrus, chalk and fresh spring water are some of the signatures. The 2008 is a stunning Champagne by any measure. The 2008 won’t be released until at least 2019, but it is already shaping up to be epic. It’s not too early to start setting aside the cash for this utterly magnificent, riveting Champagne.

vinous 2009

Rating: 94 –94

The 2009 Dom Pérignon is open, seductive and radiant, as it has always been. Soft curves, mid-weight structure and tons of plain allure make the 2009 impossible to resist in its youth. This bottle, the best I have tasted so far, offers a distinc citrus and floral-driven profile that adds a good deal of brightness. Above all else, the 2009 is a gorgeous Champagne to drink now and over then next few decades. This is the first time in the house’s history that a vintage was not released sequentially.

vinous 2009

Rating: 94 –94

The 2009 Dom Pérignon is a gorgeous, totally seductive Champagne that will drink well right out of the gate. Medium in body and unusually open-knit at this stage, the 2009 is one of the most accessible young Dom Pérignons I can remember tasting. It is an excellent choice to drink while waiting for the release of the stellar 2008 and some recent vintages that remain very young, including the 2006. Despite the warm, ripe personality of the 2009 Dom Pérignon is quite gracious, but there is plenty of depth underpinning the fruit. With each successive tasting, the 2009 seems to have gained more power and breadth, especially on the finish. Above all else, the 2009 is decidedly restrained for a warm, radiant vintage. It is not as overtly flamboyant as the 2002 nor as phenolically intense as years like 2003 and 2006. Instead, the 2009 is a beautifully balanced Champagne, with all of its elements in the right place. Tasted three times.

vinous 2010

Rating: 93 –93

The 2010 Dom Pérignon is hard to get a read on today. I have tasted it four times over the last few months, and my feeling is that it is still not totally put together. Apricot, pastry, chamomile, mint and light tropical notes are all signatures of a hot vintage with a very fast final phase of ripening that trails only 2002 and 2003 in terms of sugars. Of course, the year had plenty of challenges. The first part of the year was marked by cold and very dry weather during the winter and spring. June saw heat and some stress in the vines. July and August were quite warm, with heavy rains on August 15 and 16 that caused a widespread outbreak of botrytis that accelerated rapidly in the days leading up to harvest. Chef de Caves Vincent Chaperon explained that Chardonnay was favored over Pinot because better aeration within the clusters helped fend off rot, while parcels that had been less stressed by the June heat also suffered less from the effects of botrytis. Perhaps because of the unevenness in the season, there is also something disjointed about the 2010. While sugars were high, so were acidities, just behind 2008 in the decade of the 2000s. It will be interesting to see where the 2010 goes over time. It is the first vintage made under the direction of Vincent Chaperon, who worked alongside outgoing Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy for many years.

vinous 2012

Rating: 97 –97

The 2012 Dom Pérignon is a dense, powerful wine. I am almost shocked by its vinous intensity and raw, unbridled power. The 2012 reminds me of the 2003, but with more finesse and not quite as pushed. Mildew, rain and frost were challenges and resulted in low yields, something that was further compounded by warm, dry weather that concentrated the fruit even more. Those qualities result in a dense Dom Pérignon endowed with real phenolic intensity. It is one of the most reticent young Doms I can remember tasting, I wouldn’t even think of opening a bottle for at least a few years. (Originally published in May 2021)

vinous 2012

Rating: 97 –97

The 2012 Dom Pérignon is a dense, powerful wine. I am almost shocked by its vinous intensity and raw, unbridled power. The 2012 reminds me of the 2003, but with more finesse and not quite as pushed. Mildew, rain and frost were challenges and resulted in low yields, something that was further compounded by warm, dry weather that concentrated the fruit even more. Those qualities result in a dense Dom Pérignon endowed with real phenolic intensity. It is one of the most reticent young Doms I can remember tasting, I wouldn’t even think of opening a bottle for at least a few years.