DomPerignonLuminousLabelVintage2008

Dom Pérignon is only available as a vintage champagne and is only produced in exceptional years. Each vintage is a creation, singular and unique, that expresses both the character of the year, and the character of Dom Pérignon. After at least eight years of lees ageing in the cellars, the wine enters its first phase of interest, Plenitude 1, showing quite youthful fruit and broad texture from the lees contact. The signature Dom Pérignon aromatic is that “hint smokyâ€?character a result of the reductive winemaking where they go to extreme lengths to keep each step of the winemaking process free of oxygen. With every sip of Dom Perignon you always have that purity of fruit character, depending on the vintage you normally see the Pinot Noir fruit dominate, which are those red fruits like raspberry, peach and dark cherry. The Chardonnay adds a supporting layer of chalky texture and delicious fruit in the yellow spectrum like plum, apple and tropical notes of pineapple. rrThese “luminous labelâ€?versions of Dom Perignon are for the nightclub marketand also make great birthday gifts, a switch in the bottle “puntâ€?allows you to switch the label lights on and off. When its dark it glows brilliantly. In the sunshine, it doesn’t really glow. Since the luminous label is designed for nightclubs it does not have a gift box.rrWeather: 2008 was dominated by grey, overcast skies â€?an exception in a decade characterized by bold, generous sunshine. Spring and summerrought the same lack of sunlight and absence of high temperatures. It was September that saved the vintage, belatedly and miraculously. Just when the harvest was getting underway (on September 15), the weather conditions were finally perfect: blue skies and prolonged north-northeasterly winds. Picking was spread out over a long period in order to benefit from this positive turn of events. The grapes were riper than anyone dared hope, and had truly outstanding balance. The vines were in perfect health.rrTechnical Information:rVineyards: 100% Grand & Premier CrurGrape Varieties: 50% Pinot Noir | 50% ChardonnayrLees Ageing: 9 years on the leesrDisgorged: Jan 2018rDosage: 5 g/LrAlcohol: 12.5%rDrink:Now to 2040+rrTasting Note: Rich fruit. Nose is quite forward, with that trade mark match-strike smokey character subtly coming through. Smokey bacon, pineapple and guava on the palate with underlying ripe lemons and bright red apples, all wrapped around a texture from long lees ageing. Finishes very fresh and light, dances on the palate with a hint of that saline and twist of bitterness which really help balance the delicacy and finish.