Personal advice
Made from small, concentrated grapes, it seduces with a creamy-opulent palate and complex aromas. The lush mouthfeel envelops a precise, prickling minerality that will gain even greater importance in the future.
This tension between creamy fullness and mineral freshness, further supported by perfectly integrated acidity, makes it an exceptional vintage. It combines the opulent fruit abundance of 1990 with the perfect structure of 1996.
Dom Pérignon 2002 has a legendary reputation. It is one of the 14 Champagnes out of thousands rated 20 out of 20 by Jancis Robinson.
Antonio Galloni (vinous.com): 98 points
“The year 2002 was marked by extreme ripeness in the Chardonnays, and this opulence has always been an essential part of this wine’s profile... This youthful opulence has remained, yet the 2002 is still vibrant, almost surprisingly fresh. … in a captivating crescendo of aromas and flavors that saturates the finish. Connoisseurs can look forward to another two decades of exceptional drinking pleasure.”
What can you expect when buying this Champagne?
The intense bouquet is initially dominated by lemon, apple, jasmine, and lilies. With time in the glass, apricot and peach take over. Added are aromas of roasted nuts, brioche, lavender honey, coffee, and ginger. Another of the many aroma layers is enlivened by toasted bread, smoky notes, and vanilla.
Dom Pérignon almost always shows a silky texture. The 2002 vintage elevates this characteristic to an even higher level: The mouthfeel is marked by lush, creamy fullness.
The Chardonnays from the Grand Crus of the Côte des Blancs achieved astonishing ripeness. Yet there is no lack of balance or structure. This fullness is carried by remarkable freshness and the concentration from small yields.
The assemblage of the cuvée from grape varieties and sites is of particular importance in 2002. The structure comes mainly from the somewhat cooler Pinot Noir sites in the Montagne de Reims (e.g., Grand Cru Verzenay, Verzy, and Mailly), which perfectly balance the ripe Chardonnay.
The acidity is perfectly integrated—not pronounced, but at a high level for 2002. The low dosage is ideally tuned.
On the palate, Dom Pérignon 2002 is opulent, full-bodied, and perfectly balanced. The silky, creamy texture is supported by lively, finely integrated acidity that carries through to the long, mineral finish. The finale is long, salty-mineral, and leaves a lasting impression of freshness and elegance.
The year 2002 in Champagne was characterized by a hot, dry summer that caused the grapes to shrivel, leading to exceptionally ripe and concentrated fruit. Champagnes from this vintage show a rare combination of opulence and freshness—many experts rank 2002 among the best vintages of recent decades.
As of February 2026, Dom Pérignon 2002 is slowly approaching its peak. The optimal drinking window should remain open for another 15 years or so.
A glance at the Alfavin cellar
A glance at the Alfavin cellar
A glance at the Alfavin Cellar