By: AJ McClellan
Last night we had a great tasting featuring Dom Perignon Champagne. We had the National brand ambassador come in and taste us on the 2004 Brut Dom Perignon, 2003 Rose Dom Perignon, 1998 P2 Dom Perignon, and 1976 Oenotheque Dom Perignon. As if these wines were not enough we opened a slew of fantastic bottles both before and after the tasting.
As for the Dom Perignon every single bottle was stunning. We started with the 2004 Brut that was showing surprising toast and honey for a wine so young. The wine had beautiful tropical fruit with lovely minerality that stretched across the entire palate.
Dinner started with the 1998 P2 Plenitude bottling that is taking the place of the Oenotheque label. I was impressed with the wine. Coming from 1998 I did not have high hopes for the wine but I was pleasantly surprised with a soft green pear notes and a pronounced minerality that showed bright on the finish. I think the 1998 might still surprise a few people as a quality wine! Next course was a peppercorn duck served with a cherry glaze.
The Duck paired perfectly with the 2003 Rose that we served. The wine was soft and full of cherries and strawberries and drinking with a moderate finish of yeast and blue marl stone. Many at the table declared that this was their favorite bottle of the evening with the perfect balance of power and finesse.
The coup de gras was a 1976 Dom Perignon Oenotheque! I have had many back vintages of the Oenotheque bottling and this one was one of my favorite to date. Soft honeysuckle, almond, quince, pear, and brioche were all plain on the palate of the wine. The finish was extraordinarily long and showed beautiful minerality and subtle nuances of toast and a chalk.
All wines of the night were fantastic. Here is a listing of what else we tasted…
2002 Dom Ruinart, 2006 Colgin IX Cabernet, 2011 Favia La Magdalena, 2009 Arnaud Ente Meursault, 2001 Marcassin Three Sisters Chardonnay, 2002 Kistler Vine Hill Chardonnay, 2006 Cupano Brunello, 22003 Cheval de Andes, 2006 Bergstrom Whole Cluster Selection, 1997 Tignanello, 2011 Futo, 1992 Rene Engel Clos Vougeot