winemaker's notes:
In the 17th century, Dom Pierre Pérignon, the cellar master of the Abbey of Hautvillers in Epernay, developed a wine whose extraordinary quality would make him the spiritual father of Champagne and one of the great visionaries of the winemaking world. Dom Pérignon longed to produce the "best wine in the world" and there is much written testimony to the success of Dom Pérignon's wine with the most noble and wealthy personalities of the era.
Dom Pérignon was one of the very first producers to assemble wines starting with the grapes, as well as the first to master the production of white wines from red grapes to achieve a giant leap forward in quality. Made exclusively from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes from ten Grand Cru vineyards and from the oldest vines at the Abbey of Hautvillers, Dom Pérignon is produced only in exceptional vintage years.
The 1999 Harvest:
Changeable, often unexpected, weather. Average temperatures were high and a very dry period gave way to almost tropical conditions in late summer, with strong winds and frequent hailstorms. The rainfall during harvesting did not affect this healthy and abundant crop with an exceptionally powerful and well-rounded character.
On The Nose:
This wine is full of life, with a fresh nose that dances through a spiral of aromas, blending hints of angelica, dried flowers, pineapple, coconut, cinnamon, cocoa and tobacco.
In The Mouth:
With a fullness in the mouth, its earthy, smoky, pearly complexity rises to the surface, underscored by the vibrant warmth of peppery spice. The sensation of intensity develops and melts into a deep, rounded heart, with a fruity, exotic maturity and a slight touch of aniseed. This sensation, almost unsettling, is even more pronounced in the finish, while the notes of spice, still present, remain discreet, with toasted, iodine flavors.
critical acclaim:
"There's a high-toned minty graphite accent to the aroma, with a citric edge on the palate. The structure is overlaid with lemon and bread dough notes. This is tight and crisp on the finish, so break out the sole or shellfish, or wait a few years. Best from 2008 through 2020."
90 Points
Wine Spectator
"A lovely, fragrant '99 with tight lemon flavors, this is softer at the edges where brioche scents enrich the roasted apple fruit. It's relatively oxidative for a young vintage of Dom Pérignon. To serve over the next several years with roast pheasant and an apple-chestnut dressing."
90 Points
Wine & Spirits