Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2015, Gift Box, 75cl

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The bouquet appears restrained at first and suggests a soft and fresh world of white and green. The first notes of baked bread (bread crumb, fresh brioche, marzipan) give way to elderflower and jasmine, then to fruity notes such as white peach and watermelon. Notes of garrigue at dawn complete the bouquet. A FRANK, ENVELOPING PALATE The story of this Champagne is the story of the year 2015. A year marked by exceptional sunshine and drought from March to August. The growing concern about water stress on the vines was swept away by welcome rains in August and then weather conducive to ripening. In the end, it was a heterogeneous harvest in terms of maturation but quite serene.

It was not until 1842, 99 years after the foundation of the house, that Moët & Chandon produced its first vintage Champagne. In total, a mere 13 vintages saw the light of day in the 19th century, followed by much more frequent releases in the 1900s. The major turning point came in 1921, when the house bottled its first ever Dom Pérignon cuvée alongside its regular vintage release. Between 1921 and 1943, the wine inside both iterations was in fact one and the same, and even after production diverged, the wines coexisted in the Moët & Chandon portfolio for several decades. Dom Pérignon, however, was the cuvée de prestige and attracted most of the attention, as well as rapidly increasing in production volume. Its success meant that the standard Moët vintage was edged out of the limelight. On the plus side, though, for those in the know, the quality of the Vintage was always there – and indeed, the wine could be seen as very much undervalued compared to its more famous cousin. The harvest, which lasted 21 days, got underway on September 7 under bright light in a serene atmosphere, despite the heterogeneous progression of fruit maturity from hydric stress. Within days of the start of harvest, heavy showers battered the vineyards. Nevertheless, the fruit had matured well, with good concentration and striking aromas. Red-skinned grapes were exceptional: the Meuniers were splendid, and the Pinot Noirs revealed a maturity with a powerful, fruity nose and full-bodied finish. The fruit was healthy with well-ripened grapes radiating brilliantly.A Grand Vintage will tell the story of a specific dimension of the year with its most intriguing wines, whereas with the Brut Impérial, we seek constancy. Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2015, born in a year of sharp contrasts, is a ripe, tender, and enveloping champagne. It is defined by its lemon-yellow color, luminous reflections, fine bubbles and creamy foam.Its bouquet expresses restraint before subtly hinting at a soft and fresh white-green universe. Notes of breadcrumbs, fresh brioche and almond paste give way to elderflower and jasmine, then to white peach and watermelon, completed by elements of garrigue at dawn. The palate is direct and confident. The generous structure, with floral, aniseed and mentholated nuances, brings lightness and freshness to a sun-kissed vintage. The finish lingers on a slightly sappy note, with a delicate bitterness evoking fresh almonds. TASTING NOTE – Champagne Club by Richard Juhlin

Today, Grand Vintage represents a small fraction of Moët & Chandon’s output, similar in proportion to many other houses’ vintage Champagne. As a result, chef de cave Benoît Gouez can focus solely on quality, with full freedom of expression and little pressure to declare it. In fact, Gouez says there are very few rules in the making of Grand Vintage. He uses base wines that reflect the best qualities of the year’s harvest from Moët’s incomparably rich source, meaning the varietal blend can vary greatly from vintage to vintage. Some blends are dominated by Pinot Noir and others by Chardonnay, but surprisingly, Meunier can play a key role, too. (In 2003, Meunier registered a 43% share, proving that there really are no recipes when it comes to Grand Vintage.) You have the right to cancel a Product Contract within 14 days without giving any reason. This right Food pairing with Grand Vintage 2015 begins with the choice of a main ingredient (meat, fish, vegetable) to be cooked appropriately as a foundation to establish texture and juiciness that matches the wine’s ripeness. Secondary ingredients echo the tenderness of the champagne. The drought had an impact on the nitrogen richness of the grapes, especially for the Chardonnay. We had to be very attentive to ensure proper fermentation. In the end, we obtained interesting wines full of character. The Meuniers and Pinot Noirs, very healthy and ripe, showed a full and supple fruitiness and a structure conducive to long ageing.If you wish to cancel a Product Contract and you have already received the products from us, you will The Cellar Master was able to select wines made from the region’s three grape varieties in quality levels that met the exigencies of a Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage from both the House’s superb estate and an extraordinary diversity of wines provided by vineyard partners. I’m interested in showing a touch of noble bitterness in the wines, something beyond just acidity, for a more acquired taste,’ Gouez says in reference to the modest 5g/l sugar addition for hot, potentially phenolic vintages. Moving the style away from the more crowd-pleasing aspects of the house’s non-vintage bottlings is evident in the 2015 Grand Vintage, while the Grand Vintage Rosé goes a step further in boldly expressing its warm vintage Pinot Noir red wine component in both colour and character.