The legacy he left behind following his death in 1715 has created one of the world’s most recognisable Champagne Houses. Dom Pierre Pérignon made champagne for 47 years up until his death. The first vintage that was produced was 1921, however this was not available to buy until 1936. Until the 1947 vintage, Dom Pérignon was effectively a second release (Œnothque) of Moët and Chandon Vintage Champagne in a different bottle, as the vintage Moët and Chandon was bottled at a later date in Dom Pérignon branded bottles.
So how many vintages have Dom Perignon created?
Chef de Cave Richard Geoffroy makes the decision each year as to whether or not the vintage will be declared: “If the fruit we have harvested doesn’t satisfy the Dom Pérignon criteria, there will not be a vintage that year.”
Blanc – 48 Vintages
48 Vintages have been produced since the first declared vintage in 1921. Notably, during the second world war, no champagne was created.
1921, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1934, 1943, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015.
Rosé – 28 vintages
28 vintages have been produced, the first in 1959.
1959, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1986 (the only rosé vintage where the white version was not produced), 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009.
Plenitudes
Dom Pérignon Champagne has a series of stages during the wines ageing on the less in that there is a window of opportunity to create different expressions of the same vintage. Dom Pérignon has 3 stages (Plenitudes) of release for the champagne that will age well. Richard Geoffrey, Dom Pérignon Chef de Caves, suggests that Champagne “Dom Pérignon expresses its first plenitude after seven years in the cellar”. Dom Pérignon P2 (formely known as Œnothèque) reaches its next peak after 12 to 15 years on the lees and the third and final release, P3, after 30 to 40 years on the lees. This extended time on the lees adds complexity and with Dom Pérignon P2 brings forward the fruit personality.
Plenitude 2 – Most of these are labelled Œnotheque – 22 vintages
1959, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998 (P2), 2002 (P2) 2003 (P2), 2004 (P2) and 2006 (P2).
Following on from 1998 vintage, each Oenotheque vintage will now be called P2 (Plenitude 2)
Œnotheque Rosé – 4 Vintages
1990, 1993, 1995, 1996 (P2) and 2000(P2).
Plenitude 3 – P3 – 4 vintages
1970, 1971, 1982, 1983
Production
It is estimated that around 4 million bottles of blanc and 800,000 bottles of Rosé are produced in a vintage year. However, like every Champagne house this number varies due to the vintage conditions and the size of the yield.
The grapes that are pressed to create Dom Pérignon are from eight different Grand Crus: Aÿ, Bouzy, Verzenay, Mailly, Chouilly, Cramant, Avize, Le Mesnil and the legendary Hautvillers Premier Cru.
How have they scored?
From the information we have from more recent vintages, the following vintages that wine critics have scored the highest are: 1966, 1982, 1985, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2012.
Dom Pérignon 2002
20/20 Jancis Robinson MW
“Extraordinarily firm, confident, intense nose. Definitely the savoury side of Dom. Nothing remotely sweet or fat – though it’s as intense as a Montrachet. Wonderful quality of mousse – surely slightly less bubbly than it has been? More like a Montrachet with a bit of carbon dioxide laced into it than a typical champagne. Broad and long with a hint of orange peel. Great persistence. This already delivers but has such backbone and great acidity and light grip (only noticeable at the very end of the tasting experience) that it surely has a long life ahead of it. Really reaches every hidden cell of the palate. A very assured performance. LVMH at its very best?”
Dom Pérignon 2002
98/100 Antonio Galloni
The 2002 Dom Pérignon speaks to opulence and intensity. Rich, layered and voluptuous in the glass, the 2002 shows off its flamboyant personality with flair. Butter, cooked apple and tropically-leaning fruits mesh together effortlessly. Interestingly, with time in the glass the 2002 gains in freshness and energy without losing its essential opulence. The elevated ripeness of the year gives the 2002 Dom Pérignon distinctly Puligny-Montrachet leaning inflections. Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy adds that August that year was hot and very dry. Rain towards the end of the month and into early September freshened the vines and accelerated the final phase of ripening. This is yet another fabulous showing from the 2002, which continues to cement its reputation as a truly epic Dom Pérignon.
Dom Pérignon P2 2006
99/100 Essi Avellan
“Gloriously toasty nose on this Dom Pérignon, which has a slight Pinot Noir dominance over Chardonnay. Coconut, mocha, fireworks – there are lots of complex layers to this fruity number. Pristine, sumptuous fresh orchard fruit, but also exotic nuances. So smooth and caressing on the textured palate. The perfect silky flow drives this structured wine to its long finish. Here, the long time on lees has really done miracles in adding incredible richness and texture. This wine is so delicious that you just want to drink it, but it has ageing potential, too, in all its phenolic structure, plush fruitiness and balancing freshness. Dosage: 5g/l”
Dom Perignon 2008
98+/100 Antonio Galloni
“The 2008 Dom Pérignon is fabulous, but quite remarkably, it was even more open when I tasted it a year ago. Bright, focused and crystalline in its precision, the 2008 is going to need a number of years before it is at its best. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and white pepper give the 2008 its chiseled, bright profile. Several recent bottles have all been magnificent. What I admire most about the 2008 is the way it shows all the focus, translucence and energy that is such a signature of the year, and yet it is also remarkably deep and vertical. In other words, the 2008 is a Champagne that plays in three dimensions.” 98+/100
Dom Pérignon 2012
96-98/100 Essi Avellan MW
“In a near-perfect year, following a truly challenging growing season, Dom Pérignon ended up being equipped with an amazing choice of exciting and versatile building blocks for the cuvée, especially on the Pinot Noir front: Aÿ, Verzenay, Bouzy, Hautvillers… Some other vintages were vinegrowers vintages but with this one the chef de cave really wore the blender’s hat. The 2012 was a vintage of both freshness and density. At Dom Pérignon they really played the density card, effortlessly compacting together so much delicious, crunchy, perfectly ripe fruit. The nose is welcoming, harmonious and deeply fruity with Dom Pérignon’s hallmark fragrant smoky layeres. But the elements of surprise catch up with you on the palate. At first the wine feels deceptively light but then comes the fruity power and sheer volume. The wine’s most unique feature is the scintillating or tingling sensation that takes over and energises the rich, round and compact palate. It is almost as electrically charged as this nervousness and vibrancy bring such an exciting dynamism on the long, deliciously succulent palate. Dom Pérignon have made it again, they surprised me by playing on their fortes of incomparable resources and audacious winemaking.”
Dom Perignon 2013
95-98/100 Essi Avellan MW
“At first, the nose comes across soft and toasty, less on the gunpowder but more on the toasted bread side. A little shy perhaps, but the bouquet is impeccably pure and deliciously fruity once it reveals more of itself after a short while in the glass. There is ripe yellow plum fruit but also a brisk menthol breeze as well as some sweeter, even tropical aromas. All nuances are perfectly integrated and elegantly subtle for the time being, echoing a reservedness speaking of longevity. On the soft cushiony palate, the linearity and vivacity are first to be noted, but soon after one gets charmed by the creamy-caressing texture. The dosage is perfectly balanced at 5g/l. Much racier and perhaps a little more austere than most recent Dom Pérignon vintages, however, this coolly fruity, tight and focused wines has what true longevity takes. It has evolved slowly until now and will be one to defy time. ”
We at The Finest Bubble have a wide range of Dom Pérignon Champagne here.
