In the 17th century, Dom Pierre Pérignon, the cellar master of the Abbey of Hautvillers in Epernay, developed a wine whose extraordinary quality would make him the spiritual father of Champagne and one of the great visionaries of the winemaking world. Dom Perignon longed to produce the "best wine in the world" and there is much written testimony to the success of Dom Pérignon's wine with the most noble and wealthy personalities of the era.

 

Dom Pérignon was one of the very first producers to assemble wines starting with the grapes, as well as the first to master the production of white wines from red grapes to achieve a giant leap forward in quality. Made exclusively from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes from ten Grand Cru vineyards and from the oldest vines at the Abbey of Hautvillers, Dom Perignon is produced only in exceptional vintage years.

 

Fresh, crystalline, and sharp, the first nose unveils an unusual dimension, an aquatic vegetal world with secret touches of white pepper and gardenia. The wine then reveals airy, gentle richness before exhaling peaty scents.

On the palate, the attack bursts forth, and matures into a sensual fullness that winds around itself, like a tendril of foliage. Notes of aniseed and dried ginger linger on the skin of fruit (pear and mango), more textured than ripe. The finish gradually unfurls and then settles, smooth, mellow, all-encompassing.
An indefinable je ne sais quoi, never upsetting the integrity of the wine, has worked its charm.
Richard Geoffroy, Dom Perignon Chef de Cave

 

97 Points, James Halliday

"I am a no-holds-barred Dom addict, but I have to admit to being somewhat disappointed with the '99 vintage, which seemed altogether too delicate, verging on outright simplicity. I have no such reservations about the 2000 vintage, which has the Dom hallmark fluid line and feline grace encouraging the rapid consumption of glass after glass. Along the way you will find notes of nectarine, cherry, brioche and cream, which build into a gloriously long and even finish. It will continue to develop in bottle for decades to come."

 

95 Points, Wine Enthusiast

"This is a classic Dom Perignon vintage. It's big and fruity initially, a mouthful of ripeness. Then the texture and structure of this dense wine come through. It's as much wine as Champagne, rich, the apple and fresh pear flavors vying with yeasty and a tense crispness. Worth aging, it will be even better in 3-4 years."

 

94 Points, The Wine Advocate

"The 2000 Brut Dom Perignon is a gorgeous, seductive wine that floats on the palate with remarkable grace. Toasty aromas meld into freshly cut flowers, apricots and pears, with sweet notes of mint and licorice that linger on the long finish. This perfumed, inviting Dom Perignon is elegance personified, and in this vintage the wine fully merits its lofty reputation. According to winemaker Vincent Chaperone there is only one disgorgement date for the first release of Dom Perignon, and the 2000 was disgorged over a period of weeks in March and April, 2007, 2007. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018."

 

94 Points, Wine & Spirits

"Playing off the ripe 2000 vintage, this bottling of Dom Pérignon has intriguing layers of fruit complexity, from mature golden apple to lemon and greener tones of lima and wax beans. The flavors are clean and lasting, transformed into the glistening minerality of limestone. Firm and harmonious, this should develop for a decade or longer."

 

92 Points, International Wine Cellar

"Pale gold with a fine bead. Gently smoky aromas of lemon, pear, bay, buttered toast and lees. Round, lightly sweet orange and pear flavors are underscored by smoky minerals and given bite by refreshingly bitter lemon pith. Finishes with a lingering smokiness. This is drinking very well right now and offers classic DP toastiness."

 

92 Points, Connoisseurs' Guide

"Very few brand names say more about the good life than Dom Perignon, the luxury name from the Moet et Chandon house in Epernay. It is the widest selling tete de cuvee Champagne in the world, and for good reason. It never disappoints. Here, in its latest version, it offers the classic DP blend of sweet citrus, chalk, light toast, insistent streams of small bubbles and a long, crisp, bright flavor profile and finish. And as good as it is now, it will be better in five years."

 

91 Points, Wine Spectator

"Starts out round and plush, then the structure takes over. Light peach and berry flavors prevail as this plays out on the lingering finish. Give it a little time to integrate, but this should develop well. Best from 2009 through 2024"