2008 Dom Pérignon

Cindi and Brett Ferguson hosted a wonderful dinner featuring paella as the main course. It's been many years since I've tried Dom Pérignon, so based on the glowing reports for the 2008 vintage we popped a cork with the paella. 

Dom Pérignon is sourced from Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards located in nine villages: 
Chouilly, Cramant, Avize, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte de Blanc provide Chardonnay
Aÿ, Bouzy, Mailly-Champagne, Verzeney and Hautvillers in Montagne de Reims provide Pinot Noir 

Upon opening, it seemed a bit less dry than I usually enjoy Champagne. With exposure to air, a harmonious and elegant structure revealed itself, seducing with a rich palate of red currant and lemon zest wrapped in a gossamer robe of chalk. Everything seemed to come into balance, offering a thought-provoking level of vinosity complemented by delicately spicey florals on the nose.

I would have liked to have tried this cuvee a year or two prior to release to perhaps get a better glimpse of the early stage tension between the components that gave rise to this beauty.

It will be interesting to taste this in 5 years as a deeper tertiary character unfolds.

The 2008 vintage marks the retirement of Chef de Caves, Richard Geoffroy, concluding an impressive 28 years with Dom Pérignon. Vincent Chaperon assumed the helm in early 2019.