The precision and refinement of an exceptional champagne revealed by Dom Pérignon
The estate
Dom Pérignon champagne owes its name to Pierre Pérignon, the famous monk and cellar master of Abbey de Hautvillers in 1668, who was also known as Dom Pérignon. Legend says that Pierre Pérignon discovered what is known today as the Champagne method. As a point of interest, he taught this method to Benedictine monk, Thierry Ruinart, in 1669, which allowed Ruinart to become the first Champagne house in 1729. Since 1st January 2019, Vincent Chaperon has succeeded Richard Geoffroy as Dom Pérignon’s Cellar Master.
The wine
Each year, the Dom Pérignon Vintage revitalises the brand’s typical exceptionality while actively participating in the quest to produce a perfect champagne at the same time.
Since time shapes the essence of Dom Pérignon champagne, its invaluable bottles are only revealed after many years spent in the house’s cool and darkened ancient chalk pits (crayères). The ripening of the bottles on lees allows Dom Pérignon champagne to gradually transform, enhancing itself through completing various plenitudes and revealing the spirit which drives Dom Pérignon’s DNA.
Blend
This exceptional cuvée is made from a secret blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Tasting
Nose
The 2004 Dom Pérignon presents a nose which reveals notes of white fruit and dried flower mixed with almond and powdered cocoa. Roasted notes round off the champagne’s overall character, offering a wine with a well-rounded ripeness.
Palate
On the palate, the wine iterates between density and lightness. The precision is extreme, tactile and chiselled, concluding on a sappy and spicy note. The Dom Pérignon 2004 is a classy champagne, which its cellar master, Richard Geoffroy, compares to its famous 1970 counterpart.
In general, Dom Pérignon wines possess a beautiful aromatic complexity and are distinguished through their structure and substance. As they age, the ripeness becomes more complex and deeper, all while preserving its freshness and unique style. During the tasting, these sensations can be found through the expression given through the pairing of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. While the Chardonnay offers an initial sensation of liveliness and dynamism, the Pinot Noir counterbalances this by bringing length to the palate.
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.