Moét et Chandon Cuveé Dom Perignon 1982 with OC

Moët & Chandon Cuvée Dom Pérignon 1982.

This vintage is considered one of the greatest in Champagne and is the epitome of a mature premium champagne.

The following table provides a concise overview of the key characteristics of this prestige champagne.

🧑‍🌾 The exceptional 1982 vintage

The 1982 vintage is considered one of the best of the entire decade for Champagne. The growing season was characterised by predominantly fine weather . Despite some humidity in June and July, which led to some mildew, ideal conditions returned in August and September. The harvest began on 17 September under perfect weather conditions and produced an abundant crop of the highest quality grapes .

👃 Tasting notes from the experts

Dom Pérignon 1982 is described by all critics as a fully mature, complex and fascinating champagne that is at its peak.

• Richard Geoffroy (Chef de Cave, Dom Pérignon):In an official tasting note, he describes the wine as "pale gold with countless tiny bubbles". The nose is subtle and slightly floral with aromas of lightly toasted toast, nuts and pear. The most outstanding feature is the contrast between the initial fullness on the palate and the lively finish with citrus fruits and toast notes. His conclusion: "This wine is creamy, finely structured and has a long, silky-soft finish. It is the benchmark of the Dom Pérignon cuvée."

• Wine Spectator:The magazine raves about a "seductive and wonderfully balanced" champagne. It is "crisp" and equally flattering to the palate. The complex character of toasted bread and buttery croissant is particularly emphasised, accompanied by notes of nutmeg, spices, chocolate and vanilla .

• Antonio Galloni (Vinous):After a tasting in magnum format in 2014, he awarded 97 points and described the wine as "completely enchanting". Compared to the equally great Krug 1982, the Dom Pérignon is "somewhat more focussed and lively in style". The "salty minerality" of the wine stands out in particular and it is surprisingly youthful and vital for its age .

• Other voices:The Wine-Searcher platform also categorises the vintage as "excellent", but points out that the wine has probably passed its zenith . The aggregated ratings of many critics result in top scores of 93 to 97 points .

🍾 The different versions of the vintage

In addition to the classic Cuvée Brut, there are also rare and particularly sought-after versions of the 1982 vintage:

• Dom Pérignon Rosé 1982:This rosé version is described as harmonious, with delicate aromas of small red fruits such as wild strawberries, but also spicy and slightly animal notes ("forest floor"). On the palate, it is round, elegant and fruity with a lovely bitter note on the finish .

• Dom Pérignon Oenothèque Rosé 1982:An even rarer version, disgorged after a particularly long maturation on the lees. It offers extreme complexity with notes of guava, spicy strawberry, faded roses, smoke and minerality .

• Dom Pérignon P3 Plénitude 1982:The third and final "plénitude" (life phase) of the wine, which is produced after at least 25 to 30 years of ageing on the lees. This version is extremely concentrated, complex and practically immortal. With an average price of over €7,000 per bottle, it is the ultimate in rarity .

🍷 Conclusion

The Moët & Chandon Cuvée Dom Pérignon 1982 is a legendary champagne from a great vintage. It has reached its full maturity and today offers a unique taste experience with an impressive complexity of mature but also fresh flavours. For connoisseurs, it is the epitome of a great, mature champagne and a true collector's item.

If you would like to find out more about one of the rare versions such as the Rosé or the Oenothèque, please let me know.