Dom Perignon with Richard Geoffroy

It's not every day that one gets to taste wines with people like Richard Geoffroy, but he desided to show four vintages of Dom Perignon at the New York Wine Experience held by Wine Spectator. I have tasted lot's of older Dom Perignon's, and as of tomorrow, even more, but rarely encountered any Oenotheque. This tasting had three! All bottles directly from Moet's cellar's. The Oenothèque bottlings show extreme youth and purity and realy show the importance of provenance and storage. These are serious Champagne's, beyond the "regular" ones.

2002 Dom Perignon;
Pale lemon yellow, tiny bubbles. Citrus, minerals, green apples. Elegant acidity and mousse, some caramel and yeast with burnt bread underneath in the finish. Long. The most open 02 Dom Perignon I've tasted, and one of the more open 02 prestige cuvee's as well. 94

This is how it feels like to drink the 96 Oenothèque

1996 Dom Perignon Oenothèque;
Pale lemon yellow, tiny bubbles. Brioch, yeast, oxidized yellow apples, apple peel, rich nose. Beautiful mousse, elegant acidity, beautiful balance, so fresh and lively, gorgeous, generous yet firm, tantalizing and very long finish. 95

This is the feel of the 1990 Oenothèque

1990 Dom Perignon Oenothèque;
Pale lemon yellow, extremelly youthful color, minerals, lime, cooler feel than Cristal, feels sharper and more focused, still youthful aromas, flint, yeast, lime, apples, ripe lemon, exotic flowers, tight, superb balance, so fresh and lively, vigorous if shorter than the 96. 94

This is how you feel when having the 1975 Oenothèque

1975 Dom Perignon Oenothèque;
Pale golden, tiny bubbles, again youthful colour, minerals, smoke, lime, lemon, and again, youthful expression. Exotic flowers, yellow plums and such a purity, WOW! Creamy texture, superb balance, stunning feel, lifted, layered, complex, smooth and seemless texture and structural perfection. Streamlined and an enormous length, wave upon wave. 100


(NB How generous of Moet & Chandon to have pictures describing the wines and their feel available)