Moët & Chandon are the most famous producers in Champagne. First founded in 1743 by Claude Moët, it was the marketing acumen of Rémy Moët which initiated the brand's international fame and mass volume production. Since then, Moët & Chandon have grown by acquiring other champagne estates, selling them forward and keeping their prestigious vineyards. Such large-scale production could only operate under the leadership of a truly superb Chef de Caves and in Benoît Gouez, Moët have one of the best. With a ten-man oenologist team led by chief Dom Pérignon winemaker Vincent Chaperon, Benoît has access to the most academic minds and palates in the region, no doubt a huge driving factor behind his success. Now proprietors to the largest amount of land: some 1,190-hecatres of rich limestone soil, and the largest extent of cellars: over twenty eight kilometres.
Every Grand Vintage is unique and original, the Cellar Master's interpretation of the singular year that is produced. The Möet & Chandon Grand Vintage spirit is founded on three essential values: Freedom of interpretation, selection of the year's most remarkable wines and individuality of the vintage. The 77th vintage since the House was founded in 1743.
Weather: The 2016 vintage was not without its challenges. There was frost in late spring and very low temperatures in the vineyards, followed by a wet May, June and July, which increased the threat of disease. Thankfully August was warm and dry, which saved the crop, and harvest began on schedule in September. Fruit-forward, lush wines with vibrant acidity.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: Predominantly Grand & Premier Crus
Grape Varieties: 34% Pinot Noir, 48% Chardonnay & 18% Meunier
Disgorged: December 2023
Lees Ageing: 7 years
Dosage: 5 g/l
Cork:
Mytik Diam Technological
Drink: Now to 2035+
Tasting Note: Initial fleeting aromas are brown and dry: toasted bread, grains and hazelnut. The secondary aromas are softer: gingerbread, marzipan, barley sugar. Finally, the most persistent background notes are fruity and floral: plum, mirabelle, quince, orange blossom and aniseed. Sensations enfold effortlessly, akin to a fading scene in a movie or a gentle wave rolling over smooth sand before softly retreating. The initial round, supple attack effortlessly transitions into a structured core-like sensation, culminating in a finish reminiscent of the sweet, tangy freshness of a clementine or pomelo.
Put simply, Moët & Chandon are the most famous producers in Champagne. With production (rumoured to be in the region of thirty million bottles annually) accounting for over one-tenth of the entire region's, their role as an image builder for the appellation as a whole cannot be overstated. First founded in 1743 by Claude Moët, it was the marketing acumen of Rémy Moët which initiated the brand's international fame and mass volume production. Realising the business potential of his close friendship with Napoleon, Rémy even built the emperor a palace, Trianon on Avenue de Champagne.
Since then, Moët & Chandon have grown by acquiring other champagne estates, selling them forward and keeping their prestigious vineyards. Such large-scale production could only operate under the leadership of a truly superb Chef de Caves and in Benoît Gouez, Moët have one of the best. With a ten-man oenologist team led by chief Dom Pérignon winemaker Vincent Chaperon, Benoît has access to the most academic minds and palates in the region, no doubt a huge driving factor behind his success. Now proprietors to the largest amount of land: some 1,190-hecatres of rich limestone soil, and the largest extent of cellars: over twenty eight kilometres, Moët & Chandon's future is as secure as their champagnes are delicious.
Cellar Master:
Benoît Gouez
Winery Location: Épernay | Champagne, France
Champagne Region:
Côte des Blancs
Annual Production (bottles): Undisclosed
Chef de Cave History at Champagne Moët & Chandon:
Benoît Gouez - 2005 to current | Prior to joining Moët & Chandon, he worked in various other wine regions, including California, Australia, and New Zealand. Gouez's team includes chief Dom Pérignon winemaker Vincent Chaperon and a ten-man oenologist team, providing him with extensive expertise and resources