Wine Advisor
Ruinart, Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut 2002
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Still a stunner, the 2002 Dom Ruinart is just as gorgeous as it has always been. Warm, toasty notes meld into apricots, succulent peaches, white flowers and spices in a rich, expansive Champagne that captures the essence of the year. The 2002 is pure, full-throttle opulence, yet all the elements are very much in balance. A creamy, resonant finish rounds things out in style. Multiple tastings have shown that the 2002 is shutting down in bottle, so my suggestion is to be patient. What a gorgeous wine this is. This bottle was disgorged in March 2012.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2002 Dom Ruinart is quite a bit more extroverted and boisterous in style, with terrific richness, body and resonance. What a beautiful Champagne this is.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2002 Dom Ruinart has always been exuberant and boisterous, but on this night it is quite reserved and nowhere near as expressive as it has often been. Three bottles are all in a similar state. Although still gorgeous, the 2002 appears to have closed down a bit over the last few months.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Now with another year of bottle age, the 2002 Brut Blanc de Blancs Dom Ruinart is even better than it was last year. A huge bouquet of smoke, roasted almonds, nutmeg and graphite melds into layers of huge, exotic, super-ripe fruit. The 2002 has more than enough pure density and richness to fill out its broad shoulders nicely. It remains a big, powerful wine endowed with tons of pure structure. I can't wait to see how the 2002 ages. It is without question one of the truly great wines ever made at this historic maison.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
I had very high expectations for the 2002 Brut Blanc de Blancs Dom Ruinart and was not disappointed. Actually, that is an understatement. The 2002 is a flat-out great Dom Ruinart. It is as compelling as any Champagne I have ever tasted from the estate. Layers of sweet, perfumed fruit emerge with no end in this subtle, sexy Dom Ruinart. The 2002 vintage generally yielded big wines, and of course, a significant amount of the Chardonnay for Dom Ruinart comes from the Montagne de Reims, where the wines are richer and broader, yet those are truly mere details. The 2002 convinces for its superb overall balance and sheer personality. It possesses striking depth and an endless, eternal finish. I imagine the 2002 will enjoy a wide drinking window that will stretch out several decades. Truth is, its pretty special even today. This is Lot AGLDAD.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Bright yellow. Powerful smoke- and ginger-accented aromas of poached pear, honey and white flowers, along with a suave mineral overtone and a hint of toasted brioche. Sappy and buttery on entry, then tighter in the middle, offering intense citrus and orchard fruit flavors underscored by a chalky mineral nuance. At once fleshy and energetic, finishing with outstanding clarity, thrust and smoky length. Cream-colored label, indicating a later disgorgement, in this case 2012, as opposed to the earlier disgorged black label version, which was disgorged in 2011. LHWCB9.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
(LAG5EC3): Vivid gold. A heady bouquet displays scents of ripe orchard fruits, honeydew, candied citrus fruits and white flowers, along with powerful smoke and mineral nuances and a hint of vanilla. Lush, creamy and broad, displaying surprising vivacity to its intense pear, melon and orange flavors. The smoke and vanilla notes repeat on the finish, which shows superb power, focus and length. There's no hurry to drink this Champagne but it's awfully delicious right now.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Bright yellow. Highly aromatic, mineral- and smoke-accented aromas of poached pear, melon, orange and chamomile, with vanilla and ginger notes adding complexity. Fleshy, expansive and deeply concentrated, offering intense orchard and citrus fruit flavors and deeper notes of dried fig, vanilla and anise. Becomes smokier and spicier with air and finishes with outstanding energy and mineral-driven persistence. Complex enough to drink now, but this Champagne is built for the long haul.
About the Producer
Among the major firms, Ruinart is probably the most inconspicuous in appearance, as it is essentially known among connoisseurs for the popularity of its trademark. Its sales place is also a carefully selected first-class hotel or liquor food store. The firm's rebuilt premises in 18th century style exude a sense of tradition. Its Gallo-Roman chalk cellars are the most refined in Reims, listed as a natural monument, and every two years in the cellars, a striking competition is held in the cellars, an internationally influential competition, The aim is to discover the best wine managers in Europe. Now, the astute Jean-Francois Barot is Ruinart's cellar supervisor. He has achieved deep knowledge in champagne making, thanks to his understanding of complex bartending concepts. Ruinart champagne is extremely beautiful and elegant, and it is round and overflowing. Special mention is made of the "R" de Ruinart Champagne without a vintage. It is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, aged for 4 years in the bottle, with fine foam that is not irritating and has a beautiful fragrance. It is soft-bodied and pleasant on the palate, with a fragrant aftertaste due to the large amount of grapes in the blend from first-class vineyards. The 1988 "R" de Ruinart vintage champagne is golden-bodied, with typical ripe notes of lemon, but also complex aromas.
