Tasting Dom Pérignon 2004, a champagne fit for a Queen, two Princes, and a Princess…
In Focus, by Richard Sagala
Today, Monday the 22nd of May is an official holiday in Canada.The occasion is to celebrate Queen Victoria the great Grandmother of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second our Canadian head of State.Moët & Chandon Champagne House (producers of Dom Pérignon), holds a royal warrant as supplier of champagne to Queen Elizabeth II and it seems reasonable to think that this wine is somewhat liked by the house of Windsor who, in 1981, served 1961 Dom Perignon on the occasion of the celebration of the marriage of Charles and Lady Diana Spencer*…
2004 Dom Pérignon is the thirty-ninth release of Moët flagship wine. This specific vintage is predominantly Pinot Noir (54%), the other grape being Chardonnay (46%). 2004 was declared a vintage without any glitches or specific problems by Richard Geoffroy, Dom Pérignon oenologist and wine maker since 1996 or “memory maker” as he preferred to be called.
The bottle was sourced in a downtown Montreal outlet of the state run Quebec liquor board. The bottle was on a shelf, in its original presentation box and had not been kept in a controlled cellar temperature environment.
The tasting:
Although not especially abundant, the fine bubbles enlivened the gold colour of the wine.
The nose presented notes of speculoos biscuits and toast.
The wine shows good density and tension with aromas of Seville orange and confected citrus. A long finish with the same mid-palate flavours around a mineral core completes the tasting experience.
This “orangeade” (orange flavours) hints at a somewhat slightly oxidised aroma palette and I can’t help but think that it is due to the way the product had been kept in the store. Personally I tend to like this aromatic profile and never thought for a moment of not enjoying this champagne to the last drop.
Coming back to our Royal Celebration day, I suggest we let Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, Prince Philip, conclude this tasting note with a flavourful comment he made in the past which wraps it up rather well:
“Champagne and orange juice is a great drink. The orange improves the champagne and the champagne definitely improves the orange.”
Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
In Vino Veritas your Royal Highness!
PS: link to see a Butler style Sabrage video by Richard Sagala
*Lady Diana was born in 1961
