DOM PÉRIGNON VINTAGE BRUT, FRANCE 2012

Varietals: 51% Pinot Noir, 49% Chardonnay

Region: Hautvillers, Champagne

Tastes Like: Energy dominates on the palate. After a welcoming open the wine quickly becomes vibrant and then literally explodes with a surge of effervescence and a tonic sensation. Focused by acidic and bitter notes, the finish brings a penetrating tautness, marked by ginger, tobacco and toastiness.

What the Pros Say: Decanter - 98 Points: " What a magnificent bouquet for this Dom Pérignon 2012! Pastry, a hint of smoke and autolytic notes provide a compelling counterpart to eager yet elegant aromas of citrus (lime, tangerine and kumquat) joined by those of fresh fruit, herbs, liquorice, and menthol. There is even a refreshing note of ivy. The palate is tense, vibrant, and very fresh despite its impressive density, which meets its match with an unending finish. This 2012 incarnates the very essence of Dom Pérignon with such a concentrated degree of intensity, along with a capacity for ageing, that it is surely destined for a second life in a P2 edition."

Other Ratings: Vinous - 97 Points, James Suckling - 97 Points, Wine Spectator - 96 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 96 Points