| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Champagne |
| Colour | White |
| Type | Sparkling |
The brilliant 1996 Dom Perignon, which has largely disappeared from the marketplace, may be the finest young example of DP I have ever tasted. Notes of crushed rocks, honeysuckle, lemon oil, orange marmalade, and white pear provide a stunning aromatic display as well as palate impression. Great acidity and huge flavor intensity backed up by vibrant acidity make this an exquisite Champagne. It should drink well for 20-25 years, possibly longer.
A distinctly reticent but elegant nose with a purity of expression that is truly impressive to experience as it's relatively high-toned and while the yeast comes up with air, it's relatively muted at presence, combining with intense, precise and superbly detailed and complex flavors that culminate in an explosive and wonderfully long finish. This may very well rival the sublime '90 in time even if it's not quite as concentrated. This is still a baby so there is absolutely no rush whatsoever.
This features floral, candied citrus, pencil shaving and hazelnut aromas and flavors. It's fresh and focused, with a firm structure offset by a mouthfilling richness and a lacy texture. Not a blockbuster, but seamless and seductive in its approach. Drink now through 2010
Quite full and rich now - softening. Deep-flavoured and energising. Drink 2005-2015. Date tasted 22nd Sept 08.
1996 Dom Pérignons are gorgeous and have the potential to continue to develop beautifully for many years. The 1996 Dom Pérignon shows all of the classic notes of this wine in an exuberant, big style. Smoke, spices and roasted nuts are some of the nuances that emerge from this classy and very complete Dom Pérignon.
The extraordinary 1996 Dom Perignon champagne, perhaps the greatest vintage yet produced of this cuvée.
I have had a lot of great vintages of Dom Perignon, but I do not remember any as impressive as the 1996. Even richer than the brilliant 1990, the 1996 is still tightly wound, but reveals tremendous aromatic intensity, offering hints of bread dough, Wheat Thins, tropical fruits, and roasted hazelnuts. Medium to full-bodied, with crisp acidity buttressing the wines wealth of fruit and intensity, it comes across as extraordinarly zesty, well-delineated, and incredibly long on the palate. Moet-Chandon deserves considerable accolades for this prodigious example of Dom Perignon. Anticipated maturity: now-2020+
"A superb vintage for this fabled cuvee. The 1990 was one of my all-time favorites,but this is clearly as brilliant a wine.Very crisp acids support a exceptionally well-endowed wine with copious notes of candied lemons/oranges,and subtle hints of brioche and hazelnut.Tremendous length...should be even longer-lived than the 1990."
{Robert Parker posted on Mark Squires Wine Bulletin Board Jan 30 2004}
