DESCRIPTION

The 2012 vintage of Dom Pérignon is released, and for me this is one of the best that I’ve tried. ‘Pinot Noir and Chardonnay both offered a lot of maturity and also a lot of concentration,’ says chef de cave Vincent Chaperon. ‘The 2012 is well balanced and harmonious, but also dense.’ He describes the wine as complete and versatile, offering the usual spectrum of a great Dom P: white blossom, fruit and then the vegetal notes that are part of its aromatic typicity, together with the minerality that’s a signature of this wine.

Champagne Dom Pérignon 2012 France
12.5% alcohol, eight years on lees. Pinot Noir 51 %/Chardonnay 49%. Dosage 5g/litre, disgorged September 2020. Full yellow colour. Classic Dom P aromatics, on the fresh side with fruit and a touch of nice reduction, but also a lovely approachable toastiness. Dom P is often very easy to appreciate (as well as being quite serious and rewarding attention), but I think there’s a little more substance to this 2012. There’s a bright lemony, mandarin character with some richer peachy notes, and then vanilla and toast. The palate glides: it has a lovely stream of citrus fruit combining beautifully with toasty notes, and finishing with a citrussy flourish. Very fine and well balanced – easy to like, but with real complexity. A superbly crafted Champagne. 95/100 (Available from October, £152 clos19.com,  Berry Bros & Rudd, Jeroboams, Hedonism Wines The Finest Bubble, The Champagne Company, Harrods, Selfridges)