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A month before the long-awaited holidays, many of us are already thinking about what Champagne to choose for the New Year. Classic cuvée, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, pink, vintage, champagne from a famous House or winemaker – Champagne des Vignerons… The choice can be quite large, and the price categories are extensive. The food you have prepared for champagne may require one type of beverage, and the guests’ preferences may require another, but in any case, the wine should be exceptional. My selection of sparkling wines in this article is premium cuvées from Champagne Houses in an expensive price category, which will not only be an impressive decoration for the holiday, but also an exceptional gift for a connoisseur and admirer of sparkling wine.
Dom Pérignon 2012
This premium cuvée from the House of Moët & Chandon has a surprisingly pure, piercing and memorable style. Dom Pérignon is always a vintage champagne, which is released only if the weather conditions of the vintage promiss an exceptional result. The aging on the lees lasts much longer than required by the appellation criteria (7-9 years, 8 years for the 2012 vintage), and the blend includes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir 17 Grand Cru in proportions that vary depending on the success of the vintage for one or the other variety (51% Chardonnay and 49% Pinot Noir for the 2012 vintage). The dosage in Dom Pérignon is low – 5 g / l, which perfectly emphasizes the elegance of the champagne. Dom Pérignon has a recognizable bright minerality, freshness and finesse. The first and perhaps most expressive aroma is precisely the minerality, even slightly chalky hint, which is complemented by elegant notes of acacia flowers and fresh citrus tones of fresh lemon, lemon zest, yuzu juice and grapefruit. In taste, Dom Perignon has the same bright minerality, elegant acidity and an exceptionally long aftertaste, which also reveals unusual spicy notes of Timut pepper.
Krug 170ème édition
Another recognizable cuvée, but with a completely opposite style. Where Dom Perignon’s style is mineral, with a profile built around its structured acidity, Krug’s style is depth and richness. Unlike Dom Perignon, Krug’s Grand Cuvée is not a vintage champagne. It is a complex composition of three champagne varieties from 190 plots and dozens of reserve wines. The 170th edition uses a palette of reserve wines from 1998 to 2014 and 7 years of aging on lees.
The aroma register is ripe citrus (lemon, red orange), white flowers, candied fruit, pastry (toasted brioche), lemon cream, spices (white pepper, vanilla), with high refreshing acidity and a very long finish. An elegant combination of freshness and depth.
Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque 2014
The vintage prestige cuvée of the Perrier-Jouët House is an exceptional reflection of the style of the House and its complex blend. It is composed of three main varieties of Champagne – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, but the base wines from them are selected so that they are close in characteristics to Chardonnay. The profile of the champagne is elegant and floral (linden, peony), with delicate and fresh hints of citrus and stone fruits (white and wine peach). The finish is long and slightly spicy.
Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne 2002 Grand Cru Brut Nature
Another exceptional cuvée that reflects the uniqueness of the Champagne terroir. The blend includes 95% Chardonnay from exceptional Grand Cru sites, complemented by 5% Pinot Noir. A quarter of the base wines are aged in barrels that matured Château d’Yquem, giving the wine an elegant spiciness that complements the fine acidity and airy floral bouquet.
Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon Brut Rosé 2009
A surprising and special champagne. Rosé non-vintage cuvées are usually not intended for long maturation, and vintage ones are released less often than white champagne and require unrivaled experience in vinification. Therefore, the price range for such champagnes is higher, but it justifies itself. This cuvée consists of 55% Pinot Noir in the base wines and 10% in the added red. The rest of the blend is Chardonnay from the Grand Cru vineyards. Aging on lees and in the cellar is as much as 11 years. This composition creates a superb harmony of tertiary (honey, wax, dried rose) and vibrant primary aromas (peony, fresh rose, strawberry) with a long spicy finish (clove, nutmeg).
Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle, Itération 25
Unlike many premium cuvées from other Champagne Houses, Laurent-Perrier creates his Grand Siècle from three of the finest vintages in Champagne, which are selected to recreate the ideal vintage. But not only the best years are selected, but also the best plots – Grand Cru for Chardonnay and the most favorable ones for Pinot Noir. The aging on the lees is also very long – 12 years. The result really absorbs all the best – very fine and elegant sparkle, high acidity, a long fresh finish, ripeness of fruit, spiciness of spices and a slightly confectionery note of aging in barrels (brioche, custard).
