Dom Perignon 2004

• Great to drink
• Fine, harmonious, intense fruitiness

Dom Perignon 2004 is first choice when you are looking for a Dom Perignon that maximizes drinking pleasure without blowing the budget. Tasted blind, it even beats Dom Perignon P2 2004 that has had much longer yeast storage and is precise and fresh but more subdued in its aromatic and textural profile.

Tasted by Alfavin

An intense bouquet flows from the glass, which is immediately familiar to Dom Perignon fans. Toasted notes first appear as almonds and then quickly change to white bread and combine with nutty notes reminiscent of macadamia and cashew. But the fruit dominates the nose: lemon and lemon oil are dominant and are supported by pineapple and apricot. But it is exciting how much is happening here and one could write for a long time about ever new nuances and layers that develop over hours. The sensation on the palate is silky, because the bubbles are already very fine with age, but still have an intense freshness, giving the impression that it still has reserves for the future. On the palate, citrus fruits such as lemon and grapefruit as well as pineapple play with roasted almonds and a touch of crème brulée. The palate is endlessly long and is characterised by freshness thanks to the perfectly integrated acidity.

The vintage

2004 is a year with moderately cool temperatures, but was very warm and sunny in September.  The long growing season resulted in champagnes of great elegance and freshness with complex aromatic profiles dominated by ripe fruits, citrus and delicate floral hints. The harvest started on 24 September. As the yields were rather high and no particularly powerful champagnes were produced, the vintage was initially considered good but not great. In recent years, 2004 champagnes have increased in aromatic intensity and complexity, making it one of the most enjoyable vintages. Dom Perignon epitomises the charms of the year perfectly.

Will Dom Perinon 2004 get even better, or should I drink it over the next few years?

If fruit and freshness should dominate according to your taste, it is best to drink it over the next five years. After that, the nutty, toasted flavours become more complex and then hover over the fruit, which gradually recedes and becomes dried apricot and lemon peel. The complexity increases. Spices, roasted notes of coffee, nougat, caramel and honey are just some of the components. The dosage recedes even further, it appears drier and the mousse becomes even silkier. It may reach its peak in ten years. Tastes are varied and there are also connoisseurs who appreciate oxidative notes and a palate sensation that only has a delicate perlage on the finish and who would then wait even longer.

Technical data

Cuvée 53 % Pinot Noir, 47 % Chardonnay

Dosage: 5 g/l

Matured on lees: 8 Jahre

97 Antonio Galloni, A wine of nuance, precision and understatement, the 2004 remains all grace. Time has softened some of the contours, but the flavors remain fresh and vibrant. Medium in body, the 2004 can be enjoyed now or cellared for several decades. This is a gorgeous showing from the 2004, a wine that has been captivatingly beautiful from the first time I tasted it years ago. There is something effortless about the 2004 that is hard to capture with words. The 2004 doesn't quite have the obvious breeding of the 2008 and 2002, nor the obvious power of the 2003 or 2006, and yet it is harmonious, sublime and totally sensual.

95(96) Richard Juhlin, champagneclub Another masterpiece signed by Richard Geoffroy. Unmistakable Dom Pérignon style with unmatched silkiness throughout the palate and mouth experience. The mousse is worth its own chapter and the elegance is striking. Fine minerality and floral with citrus overtones. A little short so far but time will fill in the small gaps that exist at the beginning of life. Classically roasted and similar to the 83 when I impressed it tasted for the first time at the same age as the 04 is in now.

Der Jahrgang




2004 ist ein Jahr mit mäßig kühlen Temperaturen, das  aber im September sehr warm und sonnig wurde. Die lange Vegetationsperiode führte zu Champagnern von großer Eleganz und Frische mit komplexen aromatischen Profilen, die von reifen Früchten, Zitrusfrüchten und zarten blumigen Noten dominiert werden. Die Ernte begann am 24. September. Da die Erträge recht hoch waren und keine besonders kräftigen Champagner erzeugt wurden, wurde der Jahrgang zunächst als gut, aber nicht als großartig bezeichnet. In den letzten Jahren haben die Champagner des Jahrgangs 2004 an aromatischer Intensität und Komplexität gewonnen, was ihn zu einem der angenehmsten Jahrgänge macht. Dom Perignon verkörpert den Charme dieses Jahrgangs perfekt.




Wird Dom Perinon 2004 noch besser, oder sollte ich ihn in den nächsten Jahren trinken?




Wenn nach deinem Geschmack Frucht und Frische dominieren sollten, trinkst du ihn am besten über die nächsten fünf Jahre. In der Zeit danach werden die nussig getoastete Aromen immer komplexer und schweben dann auch über der Frucht, die dann allmählich zurücktritt und zu getrockneter Aprikose und Zitronenschale wird. Die Komplexität steigt. Gewürze, Röstnoten von Kaffee, Nougat, Karamell, Honig sind nur einige Komponenten. Die Dosage tritt noch weiter zurück, er erscheint trockener und die Mousse wird noch seidiger. Diesen Höhepunkt erreicht er vielleicht in zehn Jahren. Geschmäcker sind vielfältig und es gibt auch Liebhaber, die oxidative Noten und ein Gaumengefühl schätzen, das nur noch im Abgang eine zarte Perlage hat und die dann noch länger warten würden. 

Kennzahlen

750 mL

12.5

Champagne

Pinot Noir & Chardonnay

Sulphites

• Zero Dosage

France

Moet & Chandon 9 Avenue de Champagne 51200 Epernay Frankreich