Moet et Chandon - Dom Perignon Champagner Rose in Box 2009

WINE SPECTATOR: " A lovely rosé Champagne that waltzes gracefully across the palate, belying the concentrated range of macerated raspberry and strawberry, candied blood orange peel, toast and saffron notes carried on the elegant, satiny mousse. Long and fresh, with minerally smoke and oyster shell accents on the focused finish. Drink now through 2035."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "In comparison to the charming, pure 2008 Dom Pérignon Rosé, the 2009 Dom Pérignon Rosé possesses a ripe, dense bouquet with aromas of dark berries, licorice, dried white flowers, toast and pastry, enhanced by delicate, racy smoky hints. Full-bodied, broad and rich, it’s dense and phenolic due to the approximately 15% still red wine sourced from grapes planted in the villages of Hautvilliers, Aÿ and Bouzy, culminating in a protracted, sapid and chalky finish. Although already thoroughly enjoyable, it should age well over the next 10 years. This blend of 56% Pinot Noir and 44% Chardonnay was disgorged in March 2022 with a dosage of five grams per liter."

DECANTER: "With a 13% red wine addition, this is slightly less vinous than the 2006 (which saw 20%), yet still lays closer to this bold, sunny vintage than the nervier 2008 release. It’s a Dom Pérignon rosé in full stride today, showing a beautiful maturing Pinot Noir savour of dried strawberry and black tea starting to evolve over fresher notions of cooked citrus, mandarin and pomegranate. There’s a flowing ease here, the mousse ultra fine and the drama of the red Pinot Noir settled beautifully."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep orange – almost the same colour as Aperol, dare I say! Richly fruity nose – almost strawberry compote – suggests a much richer palate than it turns out to be. There is really a very fine thread of acidity running through this. Thoroughly satisfying finish really soothes the throat. But, given the length of time this wine matured on lees, I'm quite surprised by the relatively light autolytic imprint. Almost more like a still burgundy than a champagne, although the finish has the liveliness one would expect of a sparkling wine, sorry, champagne! Perhaps I have to wait until the Plénitude stage to be utterly seduced by this wine!"