Dom Perignon 1959-2012

Tasted Saturday, March 18, 2023 by Cailles with 167 views

Introduction

Matter of Taste, Zurich.

Flight 1 (8 Notes)

  • 2012 Dom Pérignon Champagne 94 Points

    France, Champagne

    Ten wines, eight DPs plus a 2002 P2 vs Moet Collection match-up. A superb tasting. All five 40+ years old DPs showed lively, complex, balanced and intellectually as well as hedonistically appealing. Best wine was the 1976 (97pts) which needed air to blow of some faulty/oxidation notes and reveal all its glorious complexity and freshness. Just a step behind (all 96pts) the hyper complex 1959, an almost young-ish 1975, and the still tight but incredibly fine and promising P2. An odd-ball 1980 (95pts), likely a special bottling with higher dosage, showed like a Piper Heidsieck Rare on steroids. The only disappointments were the very slightly corked 2003 (but showed superb substance underneath) and a badly corked 1990.

    TN: Expressive nose with herbs, minerality, some brioche and toasty notes all wrapped around a citrus, lime and apple core. The nose screams Dom Perignon. Very fresh on the palate but already open, even if it is still a touch wild with lots of bubbles. The same aroma profile with apple, peach citrus, smoke, minerality, some nutty and brioche notes. Incredible energy and very promising future. Very enjoyable today but it should be so much better in a few years.

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  • 2003 Dom Pérignon Champagne Flawed

    France, Champagne

    Ten wines, eight DPs plus a 2002 P2 vs Moet Collection match-up. A superb tasting. All five 40+ years old DPs showed lively, complex, balanced and intellectually as well as hedonistically appealing. Best wine was the 1976 (97pts) which needed air to blow of some faulty/oxidation notes and reveal all its glorious complexity and freshness. Just a step behind (all 96pts) the hyper complex 1959, an almost young-ish 1975, and the still tight but incredibly fine and promising P2. An odd-ball 1980 (95pts), likely a special bottling with higher dosage, showed like a Piper Heidsieck Rare on steroids. The only disappointments were the very slightly corked 2003 (but showed superb substance underneath) and a badly corked 1990.

    TN: Unfortunately, corked. As it was only slightly corked, I still tried it. The volume on the attack was quite impressive, this is a complex wine and while broad still on the good side of things. There is a good freshness and with with much more tension than I expected. I’ve never tried the 2003 before but it seems that this is now in the spot and highly enjoyable.

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  • 1990 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon Flawed

    France, Champagne

    Ten wines, eight DPs plus a 2002 P2 vs Moet Collection match-up. A superb tasting. All five 40+ years old DPs showed lively, complex, balanced and intellectually as well as hedonistically appealing. Best wine was the 1976 (97pts) which needed air to blow of some faulty/oxidation notes and reveal all its glorious complexity and freshness. Just a step behind (all 96pts) the hyper complex 1959, an almost young-ish 1975, and the still tight but incredibly fine and promising P2. An odd-ball 1980 (95pts), likely a special bottling with higher dosage, showed like a Piper Heidsieck Rare on steroids. The only disappointments were the very slightly corked 2003 (but showed superb substance underneath) and a badly corked 1990.

    TN: Too bad, this was badly corked.

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  • 1980 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 95 Points

    France, Champagne

    Ten wines, eight DPs plus a 2002 P2 vs Moet Collection match-up. A superb tasting. All five 40+ years old DPs showed lively, complex, balanced and intellectually as well as hedonistically appealing. Best wine was the 1976 (97pts) which needed air to blow of some faulty/oxidation notes and reveal all its glorious complexity and freshness. Just a step behind (all 96pts) the hyper complex 1959, an almost young-ish 1975, and the still tight but incredibly fine and promising P2. An odd-ball 1980 (95pts), likely a special bottling with higher dosage, showed like a Piper Heidsieck Rare on steroids. The only disappointments were the very slightly corked 2003 (but showed superb substance underneath) and a badly corked 1990.

    TN: Super expressive nose with loads of toffee and caramel. Highly intriguing and inviting nose with some yellow fruit underneath and a quite fresh appearance. Same on the palate with lots of burnt sugar/caramel, toffee, some faint nuttiness and some yellow fruit as well as strong layers of minerality. Still some fine mousse, good freshness and tension but clearly broader and sweeter than DP would normally be. It was said/speculated, that this must haven been a special bottling for a particular market with a clearly higher dosage. It didn’t taste like your typical DP but more like a Heidsieck Rare on steroids. Lots of fun to drink.

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  • 1976 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 97 Points

    France, Champagne

    Ten wines, eight DPs plus a 2002 P2 vs Moet Collection match-up. A superb tasting. All five 40+ years old DPs showed lively, complex, balanced and intellectually as well as hedonistically appealing. Best wine was the 1976 (97pts) which needed air to blow of some faulty/oxidation notes and reveal all its glorious complexity and freshness. Just a step behind (all 96pts) the hyper complex 1959, an almost young-ish 1975, and the still tight but incredibly fine and promising P2. An odd-ball 1980 (95pts), likely a special bottling with higher dosage, showed like a Piper Heidsieck Rare on steroids. The only disappointments were the very slightly corked 2003 (but showed superb substance underneath) and a badly corked 1990.

    TN: Intense, expressive nose full of tension with lots of nutty notes, citrus, herbs, minerality, tiny hints of oxidation notes. On the palate this shows superb with so much tension and freshness, still some fine mousse. Quite intense toasty and yellow fruit aromas along some minerality. Just tiny hints of oxidation notes at first which luckily disappear completely with time. In addition, the wine gained a lot of complexity, mit palate weight and tension. A fantastic showing which needed a air to fully shine. In the end and with the last sips, this was clearly the most complete wine combining complexity, purity of aromas, finesse, and tension perfectly.

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  • 1975 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 96 Points

    France, Champagne

    Ten wines, eight DPs plus a 2002 P2 vs Moet Collection match-up. A superb tasting. All five 40+ years old DPs showed lively, complex, balanced and intellectually as well as hedonistically appealing. Best wine was the 1976 (97pts) which needed air to blow of some faulty/oxidation notes and reveal all its glorious complexity and freshness. Just a step behind (all 96pts) the hyper complex 1959, an almost young-ish 1975, and the still tight but incredibly fine and promising P2. An odd-ball 1980 (95pts), likely a special bottling with higher dosage, showed like a Piper Heidsieck Rare on steroids. The only disappointments were the very slightly corked 2003 (but showed superb substance underneath) and a badly corked 1990.

    TN: At first a bit muted on the nose this opened nicely with air, showing so fresh and almost young-ish with fine citrus, peachy fruits, yellow fruit, minerality and layers of brioche and toast with just a slight touch of nuttiness. Very typical DP from start to finish. Round and elegant, very fine streak of acidity, fine mousse and good tension. Blind I would have guessed this to be probably 20 years old. An exceptionally well-kept bottle and great wine

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  • 1962 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 93 Points

    France, Champagne

    Ten wines, eight DPs plus a 2002 P2 vs Moet Collection match-up. A superb tasting. All five 40+ years old DPs showed lively, complex, balanced and intellectually as well as hedonistically appealing. Best wine was the 1976 (97pts) which needed air to blow of some faulty/oxidation notes and reveal all its glorious complexity and freshness. Just a step behind (all 96pts) the hyper complex 1959, an almost young-ish 1975, and the still tight but incredibly fine and promising P2. An odd-ball 1980 (95pts), likely a special bottling with higher dosage, showed like a Piper Heidsieck Rare on steroids. The only disappointments were the very slightly corked 2003 (but showed superb substance underneath) and a badly corked 1990.

    TN: Intense, expressive with a very faint layer of oxidation but not interfering with the wine. Very complex and highly precise on the nose and palate displaying mushrooms, yellow fruit, herbs, minerality, nutty notes. Still some very fine mousse but hardly so, fresh, round, and harmonious. In this lineup, only the 1962 and 1959 showed tertiary mushroom and truffle aromas but both alongside still fresh fruit which made them the most complex renditions of the day.

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  • 1959 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 96 Points

    France, Champagne

    Ten wines, eight DPs plus a 2002 P2 vs Moet Collection match-up. A superb tasting. All five 40+ years old DPs showed lively, complex, balanced and intellectually as well as hedonistically appealing. Best wine was the 1976 (97pts) which needed air to blow of some faulty/oxidation notes and reveal all its glorious complexity and freshness. Just a step behind (all 96pts) the hyper complex 1959, an almost young-ish 1975, and the still tight but incredibly fine and promising P2. An odd-ball 1980 (95pts), likely a special bottling with higher dosage, showed like a Piper Heidsieck Rare on steroids. The only disappointments were the very slightly corked 2003 (but showed superb substance underneath) and a badly corked 1990.

    TN: Intriguing, expressive nose to die for. Intense layers of yellow fruit, brioche, toast, fine minerality and smoke, Superb. Layered, fresh, elegant. On the palate this is hyper complex, layers and layers of yellow fruit, citrus notes, toasty and nutty aromas, mushroom and hints of white truffles, some earthy notes and minerality. There is still some fine mousse, a good acidity backbone and good tension. Superb showing. 96/97 pts. In this lineup, only the 1962 and 1959 showed tertiary mushroom and truffle aromas but both alongside still fresh fruit which made them the most complex renditions of the day.

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Flight 2 (2 Notes)

  • 2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne P2 96 Points

    France, Champagne

    Ten wines, eight DPs plus a 2002 P2 vs Moet Collection match-up. A superb tasting. All five 40+ years old DPs showed lively, complex, balanced and intellectually as well as hedonistically appealing. Best wine was the 1976 (97pts) which needed air to blow of some faulty/oxidation notes and reveal all its glorious complexity and freshness. Just a step behind (all 96pts) the hyper complex 1959, an almost young-ish 1975, and the still tight but incredibly fine and promising P2. An odd-ball 1980 (95pts), likely a special bottling with higher dosage, showed like a Piper Heidsieck Rare on steroids. The only disappointments were the very slightly corked 2003 (but showed superb substance underneath) and a badly corked 1990.

    TN: Very fine, elegant nose some citrus, nutty notes. On the palate, this wine is incredibly round and elegant – it’s all about finesse and with a superb freshness. The wine displays layers of nutty and minerality notes, some brioche, citrus, lime fruit. Still a touch tight and not revealing everything vs the more open and complex regular 2002 today but is much fresher and more elegant. This has a bright future.

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  • 2002 Moët & Chandon Champagne Grand Vintage Collection 93 Points

    France, Champagne

    Ten wines, eight DPs plus a 2002 P2 vs Moet Collection match-up. A superb tasting. All five 40+ years old DPs showed lively, complex, balanced and intellectually as well as hedonistically appealing. Best wine was the 1976 (97pts) which needed air to blow of some faulty/oxidation notes and reveal all its glorious complexity and freshness. Just a step behind (all 96pts) the hyper complex 1959, an almost young-ish 1975, and the still tight but incredibly fine and promising P2. An odd-ball 1980 (95pts), likely a special bottling with higher dosage, showed like a Piper Heidsieck Rare on steroids. The only disappointments were the very slightly corked 2003 (but showed superb substance underneath) and a badly corked 1990.

    TN: Brioche, nutty nose. Some citrus notes peak through too. On the palate this shows very plesant and quite fresh with citrus, peaches, nutty and minerality notes. Having had the P2 2002 in the next glass, this shows superbly fresh too but in terms of finesse, the P2 is on another level. Nevertheless, this is a very good Champagne.

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