Most recent thread I could find…anyway, had a really good bottle of this on Saturday:
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2002 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon - France, Champagne (12/15/2012)
Popped and poured. Light gold, fine bead. Upon first pour the pronounced, powerful nose initially shows an array of youthful fruit, with citrus zest, sliced pear and stone fruits. The aromas grow more complex with aeration and the fruit is complimented by lemongrass, subtle almond biscuit, and perhaps even a hint of something more exotic…cardamum? Medium-light body (this particular bottle showing excellent concentration). While the palate at present doesn’t show the same level of complexity vis–à–vis the nose, youthful flavors centered on fruit are equally pronounced and, although one-note, show depth and impact. Moderate to moderate-plus acidity. Long close.
Although inconsistent, the 2002 Dom Perignon can be exhilarating to experience, and this bottle was just that.
This was a great bottle, significantly better than the last time I tasted about 1 year ago (which was from the same batch). I have no expertise on aging Champagne, but this doesn’t strike me as one for extended aging. That said, I’d love to try it again in 3 to 6+ years. Also, this immediately made me think of a great 2002 Cristal from a couple months ago, and not due to any similarity other than vintage, but rather in how much I would have loved to taste both next to each other.
So anyway, that’s 2 good out of 3 total now for me.