In the vast, bubbly expanse of Champagne, a name rises above the rest, a beacon of luxury and celebration: Dom Pérignon. Dom is without a doubt the world's most famous luxury Champagne brand.

It's the go-to choice for those seeking to mark a special occasion, whether it's a celebrity gracing the red carpet or a royal wedding. The Champagne was specially bottled for Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s lavish wedding. And I, for one, could not forget Margot Robbie's luxurious bubble bath in The Big Short, while she explains to us the intricacies of the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis while sipping on a glass of 20-year-old Dom Perignon.

But what is it about Dom Pérignon that makes it so universally adored, surpassing so many other esteemed Champagne houses in both recognition and reverence?

The simple answer is this: Dom Pérignon is simply the first prestige cuvée Champagne that became commercially available to the public (Louis Roederer’s Cristal is technically the first prestige cuvée Champagne created but was only available to private clients).

Dom Pérignon, to be precise, isn't a winery or even a Champagne house in its own right. It's actually the flagship brand of the Moët & Chandon Champagne House, who acquired the name back in 1921 and cleverly decided to promote it as their prestige cuvée. Now, that's a fancy French term, but all it really means is that Dom Pérignon is their top-of-the-line Champagne, the cream of the crop, the absolute pinnacle of their craft and quality. It's a bubbly that's crafted only with the best grapes, often plucked from the most prestigious vineyards, and it's typically aged for far longer than any other Champagne in their repertoire.

The name itself is a nod to the legendary Benedictine monk, Dom Pierre Pérignon, who lived in the 1600s and is credited with numerous breakthroughs in the art of Champagne making. In fact, legend has it that when Dom Pérignon first tasted his creation, he exclaimed, "Come quickly, I am drinking the stars!" Whether he actually uttered those words or not, the sentiment rings true - Dom Pérignon is a Champagne that truly sparkles. And if you ever find yourself in Épernay, France, visiting the grand Moët & Chandon headquarters, you can raise a glass (or two) to the man Dom Pérignon himself – a statue of the monk proudly stands in the grounds, a testament to his enduring legacy.

In essence, the creation of Dom Pérignon is a marriage of top-notch craftsmanship and savvy marketing. To an extent, it shows us the power of storytelling, proving that sometimes, a good name and a bit of mystique can elevate a product to legendary status.

How Dom Pérignon is made

The Château Moët & Chandon

Unlike many other Champagne houses, Dom Pérignon exclusively produces vintage Champagnes. That means each and every bottle you uncork contains grapes harvested from a single year, capturing the unique essence and character of that specific vintage. It's a testament to their commitment to quality, as they'll only release a vintage if the growing conditions were absolutely perfect. In fact, it's estimated that only six vintages each decade manage to meet their exacting standards!

All Champagne, by law, must be aged for a minimum of 15 months in the bottle before it can be released. But at Dom Pérignon, most of their Champagnes are aged for at least seven years, and in exceptional vintages, they'll even set aside some bottles to age for even longer. This extended ageing on the lees (those dead yeast cells that give Champagne its signature bready notes) is crucial for developing the complex flavours and textures that Dom Pérignon is renowned for.

Interestingly, this ageing process also means that each vintage of Dom Pérignon is actually released three times. The first release, typically after about nine years of ageing, is called the Plentitude 1 or "P1". The second release, after around 18 years, is the "P2", and the third release, after around 25 years, is the "P3". Each release offers a unique expression of the same vintage, showcasing how the Champagne has evolved and matured over time. So, if you ever spot a bottle with "P2" or "P3" on the foil, you'll know you're in for a truly special treat.

The winemakers at Dom Pérignon are also obsessed with creating Champagnes that can gracefully age as a fine wine for decades. This is a stark contrast to many non-vintage Champagnes, which are designed to be enjoyed young and fresh.

Dom Pérignon - Brut Champagne Vintage 2008 – Review

While 2008 might be a year that lives down in infamy for the subprime mortgage crisis, it seems the grapes didn't get the memo. Funnily enough, the 2008 vintage for Champagne is hailed as one of the finest in recent memory. Mother Nature truly outdid herself that year, blessing the region with a cool, wet spring that held back the flowering vines, followed by a gloriously dry and sunny summer that ripened those grapes to perfection. And when harvest time rolled around, the conditions were nothing short of ideal, with cool nights and warm days preserving the acidity and allowing those complex flavours to truly blossom.

And with that, let’s give this 2008 bottle of Dom Pérignon a taste.

Tasting Notes

Nose: It is bit coy at first sniff, holding back its full glory. A gentle citrus note, like the zest of a lemon mingling with the subtle salinity of the sea, teases the senses. Then, a lively sourness emerges, a distinctive Dom Pérignon trait – a creamy lemon mousse aroma, a whisper of passionfruit, and the comforting scent of buttered toast, just slightly singed.

Palate: It's a burst of bright delightful acidity. Bright, fresh, and lively, the flavours are beautifully integrated and balanced. A medium-bodied symphony of green apples, passion fruit, grapefruit, and a cooling touch of mint – it's almost like sipping on a mojito with tons of mint and with a hint of chalky minerality. A subtle breadiness weaves through, reminiscent of brioche and a tangy key lime pie.

Finish: A touch of minerality lingers, along with the persistent citrus notes. An intriguing savoury twist emerges – a hint of smoked ham and the briny sweetness of fresh oysters.

My Thoughts:

This Dom Pérignon certainly has the classic house's signature style – elegant and balanced with notes of lemon mousse. I do think the 2008 vintage is definitely more expressive than other Dom Pérignon releases I've tried. The vibrant fruitiness and crisp acidity are in perfect harmony, making it approachable yet complex.

On the whole, it's a Champagne that can be enjoyed now, with its youthful exuberance, or cellared for years to reveal its full potential. To be honest, while this is already great now, I think this would still need a few more years of bottle aging to truly shine. I suspect it will evolve beautifully with time, the current acidic fruits mellowing into richer dried fruits and honeyed sweetness, while the subtle toastiness could develop into deeper brioche and almond flavours.

I'd love to revisit it in 2028-2030 to see how it has blossomed.

My Rating: 90/100

@CharsiuCharlie