Dom Perignon 2015

• A soft palate but with a phenolic finish
• Improves with exposure to air but needs time

Dom Pérignon in the warm, ripe year of 2015

Dom Pérignon 2015 is full-bodied and concentrated, with low acidity and a soft, opulent palate that is influenced by phenolics on the finish. After several hours exposed to air, the wine’s mineral core becomes apparent and the palate gains freshness. After seven years on the lees—internally referred to as Plénitude 1, though unlike P2 and P3, this is not labelled as such—fruit aromas and a buttery, toasty richness dominate. The house style is reductive, meaning that every effort is made to limit oxygen exposure during winemaking. This is reflected in subtle smoky notes.

Following a wet winter and a mild spring, the 2015 vintage was marked by uninterrupted sunny, warm weather from mid-May to mid-August. The heat at the end of July and in the first half of August led to rapidly rising sugar levels in the grapes. However, the skins were not yet phenolically ripe, especially in areas where soil moisture was limited. The best Champagne soils, with their fine-grained chalk, retain plenty of water and were less affected. Acidity levels in the grapes also dropped. After some rainfall, harvest began as early as 29 August to prevent further acid loss. Many grapes, however, were not fully ripe. This resulted in bitter tannins on the finish, even when the must had only brief contact with the skins. This is also evident in aromas of raw mushrooms, which can indicate under-ripeness. At Dom Pérignon, there is no rush. Sunny but cool weather in mid-September created ideal conditions for ripe fruit. Nonetheless, Dom Pérignon 2015 also shows phenolic grip on the finish and low acidity. The structure in this vintage comes from the chalky minerals. Still, 2015 is a particularly opulent, soft Dom Pérignon. The ageing potential is more difficult to assess; some hot years, like 1976, develop very slowly and are extremely long-lived. Dom Pérignon 2015 will continue to improve, but is likely to offer its best drinking experiences over the next ten years.

Dom Pérignon 2015 was disgorged in January 2023 with 4.5 g dosage. It consists of 51% Pinot Noir and 49% Chardonnay.

96 Antonio Galloni vinous.com The 2015 Dom Perignon is terrific. Bright and poised, the 2015 shows terrific energy. Citrus peel, white flowers, mint, white pepper and slate all race across the palate. There is gorgeous tension and backbone here, with bright saline notes that extend the mid palate and finish. This is a fine showing in a vintage that has proven tricky. I am intrigued to see how the 2015 develops in the coming years.


95(92) Richard Juhlin champagneclub.com From the dry and hot year 2015, of course, the genius Vincent Chaperon manages to escape the vintage's excess clarity and shortcomings. With the world's largest quality vineyards in the mosaic, he and his team carefully balance and carefully consider every detail. Here, it is important to create balance and harmony with a higher percentage of mineral-driven and cooler locations as a cornerstone. The natural sweetness of the grapes also required a slightly lower dosage to preserve the clarity and evidence of each instrument's contribution to the well-tuned symphonic experience created. They should also be commended for not being tempted by the possibility of making a fully mature and generously matured wine from scratch, even though nightclubs and party-hungry consumers would surely have praised the wine even more if that was the case. No, here there is a nice restraint and mouth-watering mineral saltiness in the background throughout the taste journey. The aromas are intense with exquisite balance between roasted coffee and chocolate notes intertwined with lime and jasmine and both yellow and green showy juicy fruits. The natural fruit is impressive in its strength and purity, but I am probably most impressed by how clear the Dom Pérignon character is and how excited I am when I think about how nicely this vintage will also develop both in private cellars and in Épernay for to one day be presented in its most beautiful form under the P2 and P3 label. At the moment, I just have to recommend that you serve the champagne with a classic blini with sour cream and a spoonful of ultra black caviar. The saltiness of the caviar highlights the richness of detail in the champagne in an outstanding way.

750 mL

12.5

Champagne

Pinot Noir & Chardonnay

Sulphites

• Dry

France

Moet & Chandon 9 Avenue de Champagne 51200 Epernay Frankreich