2010 Dom Pérignon Brut—A First Encounter

I was recently lucky to taste a preview bottle of the 2010 Dom Pérignon Brut Champagne, which is scheduled to be released sometime in the next 30 or so days. This iconic Champagne is always an approximately even blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, sourced mostly from the Grand Cru’s of Champagne, with a little bit of the historic Premier Cru of Hautvillers added in as this was where the Dom himself worked and lived. Our new world of being at home calls for easy food and anything that can be done without a computer, so we paired it with luxurious Brentwood corn on the cob, slathered in white truffle butter, and sprinkled with fleur de sel that I hand-carried back from France. It was a very good summer pairing, but the wine was very nice on its own, after dinner, with a game of dominos. The Champagne has a very bright color of light straw, with a subtle gleam of green. The color does not match the nose, which is loaded with the autolytic brioche that is the signature of this cuvee. The color did match the fresh palate impression, which had a pronounced bergamot note which reminded my wife, Cinnamon, of flamed citrus peels, in a high-end cocktail. The bead's texture and quality were excellent, as one would expect, and the finish was quite dry and steely. If you are interested in being the first to know about this new release, add yourself to the waiting list.

A toast to you!

Gary Westby