Happy Friday to you all. Last night I had a unique opportunity to sample a pretty outstanding collection of Champagnes all in the same sitting. LVMH group (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) is one of the world powers of Champagne. If you’re sipping a glass of Champagne, chances are it is comes from LVMH. While only 1% of the world’s wine is Champagne, 2017 LVMH amassed profits of €42.6 billion in 2017, an increase of 13% over the previous year. That a ton of Champagne sold.
LVMH owns Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot and Dom Pérignon, all storied houses in Champagne. The tasting showed off both nonvintage and vintage Champagnes, all culminating with the new release of Dom Perignon coming from the somewhat challenging 2009 vintage. Dom Perignon has not released a Champagne since the 2006 vintage so it was exciting to try their new wine. I also learned that Dom Perignon will be producing a 2008 vintage wine later in the year.
The 2009 Dom Pérignon Champagne (WWB, 95) was an ethereal effort with tremendous balance and body. This wine has marvelous cellaring potential and I think that it currently needs a few years in the cellar to come together. Hugely complex and gorgeous right now, the 2006 Veuve Clicquot ‘La Grand Dame’ Champagne (WWB, 95) has an exotic range of aromatics and flavors. This wine is a stunner that will also cellar well for decades to come. Learn more about these storied Champagne houses at https://www.lvmh.com/ Here are the new Champagne releases by Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicot and Dom Perignon.
NV Moët & Chandon ‘Brut’ Champagne- Forward but delicious, this wine delivers a bouquet of orange zest with strong challah bread undertones. The mousse is silky, learning to balanced flavors of lime zest with brioche and macadamia nut accents. Lovely and refreshing, this is an outstanding new effort. Drink 2018-2022- 90
NV Veuve Clicquot ‘Brut’ Champagne- The NV Brut Champagne by Veuve Clicot has a great combination of poise and elegance. The flavors of banana, brioche and citrus rind connect marvelously with the weight of the wine. Crisp and lithe, this delicious effort finishes clean with a nice minerality. Drink 2018-2022- 90
NV Veuve Clicquot Rose Champagne- 12% still wine was added to this blend that is an awesome showing by this house. This starts off with aromatics of orange rind, watermelon and suggestions of pomegranate seed. The balance here is really lovely as this revels wild strawberry purée, red cherry and lemon zest flavors that sit along wonderful tension. Drink 2018-2028- 92
2006 Veuve Clicquot ‘La Grand Dame’ Champagne- The 2006 ‘La Grand Dame’ is a seriously good effort in this exciting vintage. This gorgeous wine showcases highly complex aromatics of lemon oil, brioche and roasted macadamia nut. The tension and balance is simply amazing. The mousse and weight is even more appealing. Ripe Japanese apple, green papaya, lemon cake and suggestions of key lime finish this outstanding wine. I love the weight of this wine on the mid-palate as this evokes almost an unctuous texture. This outstanding Champagne cellar marvelously for two plus decades. Drink 2018-2038- 95
2008 Moet & Chandon ‘Grand Vintage’ Champagne- Aged for seven years, the 2008 ‘Grand Vintage’ Champagne has wonderful musty aromatics with toasty oak, hazelnut and vanilla cream. The palate is lithe and intense, showing kumquat, challah bread and Gala apple flavors that connect with a wonderful tension. Drink 2018-2028- 92
2009 Dom Pérignon Champagne- Disgorged in June 2016, the 2009 Dom Pérignon is a simply fabulous effort from a challenging vintage in Champagne. The musty and earthy aromatics grab you straight away. Wild mushroom, brioche, poached pear and toasted hazelnut aromatics impress. Hugely balanced and smooth, this showcases lemon zest, baked apple and marzipan with biscuit flavors. This Champagne might be a touch young, needing time to develop, but it is a downright gorgeous wine with marvelous cellaring potential. Try to hold off on this stunner for at least two years. Drink 2020-2040-95