![]() Dom Pérignon likes playful experiences: culinary art, textures, and matters.ĬOMMENTARY: Dom Pérignon-a luxury brand that needs no introduction-is going to get even better as it moves through the generational changes with the changing of the guard. Spices enhance and accentuate 2008’s effervescence and densify the wine. The wine enjoys duality: warmth & freshness, meat & iodine pairings, cooked & raw. Its persistence is mainly aromatic, grey, smoky and highly promising. The vintage's characteristic acidity is remarkably well integrated. Its slender, minimalist, pure, toned, athletic character is now also expressed with warmth. There is complete balance between the nose and the palate. The final aromas offered by the wine are starting to show spicy, woody and roasted notes.Īfter a long period of reluctance, the wine is finally opening up. The overall effect is enhanced by the freshness of aniseed and crushed mint. The opening bouquet is complex and luminous, a mingling of white flowers, citrus and stone fruit. To the bracing acidity, concision and aromatic purity expected of the 2008 vintage, Dom Pérignon adds depth, density and complexity. The grapes were riper than anyone dared hope, and had truly outstanding balance. Just when the harvest was getting underway, the weather conditions were finally perfect: blue skies and prolonged north-northeasterly winds. Still a baby.2008 was dominated by grey, overcast skies – an exception in a decade characterized by bold, generous sunshine. ![]() Clean and neat and with light smokiness on the finish. And, as Vincent Chaperon readily admitted, will definitely show up as a P2 star. And quite marked phenolics on the end which suggest this will have a remarkably long life. Alison Napjus, Wine SpectatorĬlassic lemon-zest and tension nose that I associate with Dom Pérignon, but with extra weight and depth. A bright, finely-knit and harmonious version, with a lovely, raw silk-like mousse, and a lasting, expressive finish. This eloquent Champagne has an enticing waft of Mandarin orange on the nose that continues on the palate, which is layered with flavors of crushed blackberry and cassis, toast, chopped almond, graphite and oyster shell. 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. 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. 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. Drinkable now, but will develop beautifully in the bottle. Tension, too, with precise phenolics and bright acidity on the back palate. It’s medium-bodied with really fine bubbles and balance. Wonderful elegance and balance to this Dom Pérignon with cooked apple, lemon and hints of white pepper and salt. 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. Those qualities result in a dense Dom Pérignon endowed with real phenolic intensity. 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. The 2012 reminds me of the 2003, but with more finesse and not quite as pushed. I am almost shocked by its vinous intensity and raw, unbridled power. The 2012 Dom Pérignon is a dense, powerful wine. This 2012 incarnates the very essence of Dom Pérignon with such a concentrated degree of intensity, along with a capacity for ageing, that it is surely destined for a second life in a P2 edition. The palate is tense, vibrant, and very fresh despite its impressive density, which meets its match with an unending finish. What a magnificent bouquet for this Dom Pérignon 2012! Pastry, a hint of smoke and autolytic notes provide a compelling counterpart to eager yet elegant aromas of citrus (lime, tangerine and kumquat) joined by those of fresh fruit, herbs, liquorice, and menthol.
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