1996 Moet et Chandon Dom Perignon "Oenotheque" Brut Champagne

A magnificent Champagne, one that is light, delicate, yet packed with character. It is beautifully balanced, with a bone-dry character, just softened by the toastiness that is developing. Expect this to age for many years.

The 1996 Dom Perignon OEenotheque offers up layers of pastry, lemon, smoke and toastiness. At first deceptively understated, the wine turns positively explosive and layered on the palate, showing remarkable tension, elegance and power, all wrapped around a seriously intense frame. The balance between fruit and acidity is awesome. This is a marvelous DP OEeno. The OEeno is the same juice as the regular Dom Perignon, except the OEeno is aged on the cork while the regular DP is aged in crown-sealed bottles. Once disgorged, the OEenos get a slightly lower dosage than is typical for the original release DP.

This wine transcends the broadness of the 1995 vintage with detail and precision to its flavors. It's massive and mature, a gorgeous older Champagne that shows no signs of reaching its peak. There's something hypnotic in the limestone essence of the flavor, a pleasure that extends into layers of pale fruit purity, earthen strawberry, brioche and a ping of brightness. A day later, it has expanded into glory: Decant this if you open it now, or hold it for the right occasion sometime in the next ten years.