Overview
Grand Vintage 2002 is characterized by the aromas of cereals and frangipani, white peach and nectarine, with a velvety texture and a precise finish, creating an exceptional Champagne. Benoît Gouez, Chef de Cave
- Region:
- FRA - Champagne
- State:
- Imported
- Country:
- France
Expert Reviews
An intriguing mix of power (vintage) with nicely worked autolysis complexity (house style), which has a neat, fresh edge. The nose has lemon citrus, some grapefruit, nice reduction and gently toasted toasted lemon biscuit complexity. There's a lemon blossom here too, with nice lift and brightness - a definite lemon theme. The palate's nicely weighted, with plenty of acid undercurrent, some pithy citrus flavour and phenolic tang, finishing with nutty pinot flavour. Plenty of time on lees, so good to go now. Smooth and nutty tannin finish.
Score: 93. Nick Stock and two glasses. Nick Stock Good Wine Guide 2012
"One of the best bargain vintage champagnes on the market" says guru Tom Stevenson. Pinot noir (45%) and pinot meunier (15%) are at the front end, chardonnay (40%) at the back end. The perfumed bouquet has apple blossom, pear and wild herb flowers, the long, complex palate with fresh fruit flavours woven through rich and creamy/bready characters; the lingering finish has true gravitas.Rating - 95 points & Halliday’s Top 100 Wines for 2010 – The Weekend Australian (13-14/NOV/2010)
A great vintage for Champagne and the quality here augurs well for Dom Perignon (to be released sometime now I think). It’s 51% Chardonnay, 26% Pinot Noir, 23% Pinot Meunier. I’ve lost my notes but I remember it well. Glorious Champagne texture and flavour on offer here – it’s full bodied but fine, more or less dry yet fruity, with a superb long dry finish. Florals, stonefruits and lemon biscuits with toasty bready complexity, although freshness and vigour is more important than the types of flavours. Top end. Rating 95 - Gary Walsh; The Wine Front(AUG/2010)
Winery Tasting Notes
Grape Varietals
51% Chardonnay, 26% Pinot Noir, 23% Pinot Meunier
Aroma
Warm notes of grain and frangipane along with toasted almonds and malt, mocha and light tobacco. Notes of ripe fruits follow: pear, candied citrus, plum, nectarine and white peach.
Palate
Grand Vintage 2002 is mature, harmonious and precise. Seven years in the cellars have developed the mature, toasty flavours, both sweet and dry.
On the palate, the construction is precise and the substance is velvety. The first impression of creamy roundness progressively allows the linear, tight structure to appear. The flavours of fruit become fresher: mandarin orange and pink grapefruit. The deliberately light dosage (5.5 g/l), creates a firm, precise finish, deliciously tonic and refreshing, with notes of rhubarb and currant as well as quinine and citrus.
Winemaking Note
Moët and Chandon Grand Vintage 2002 is the first vintage since the 1930s to be aged for seven years in the cellars, rather than the House’s traditional five. Chef de Cave Benoît Gouez determined that "releasing the 2002 Grand Vintage in 2008 would not have done justice to the wine’s remarkable promise."
