Dom Perignon Rose 1998 Magnum
The first perfumed floral notes quickly open up into orange peel and dried fruits, with the characteristics of a well-matured harvest and woody spices.
On the palate the envelope is ample and the structure remarkably balanced, precise and sophisticated. The warm, radiant complexity persists and vibrates, barely touched by the subtlest hint of bitterness.
The 1998 harvest saw two unusual and contrasting weather-related events. The severe burning of grapes caused by record temperatures in August followed by exceptionally high rainfall in the first half of September. Patience regarding the start of the harvest was rewarded by the period of miraculously good weather that followed. The grapes were healthy and especially well-ripened.
Background Information:
When Father Pierre Perignon took over as cellar master at the Benedictine Abbey of Hautvillers in 1668, his avowed goal was "to make the best wine in the world". For a young monk just 30 years old, it took a visionary spirit and exceptional audacity to pursue such lofty ambitions. An exact contemporary of Louis XIV, Dom Pérignon transformed the history of wine, just as the Sun King revolutionized the very notion of "art de vivre". Wine was the medium for their meeting, as the excellence of "Father Perignon's wine" earned it a place at the king's table.
More than three centuries later, the House of Dom Perignon perpetuates the visionary approach of its founder, widely considered the spiritual father of Champagne. Released only as a vintage, Dom Perignon is cellar aged for at least seven years prior to release. This time is critical for harmonising the flavours and ensuring that the wine’s balance remains elegant, sensual and ethereal. Dom Perignon can also be enjoyed many years later with rare OEnotheque vintages, released by the Chef de Cave at times when the intensity and complexity of the wine has reached optimum levels. Each new vintage is a unique creative act, reinventing the extraordinary style of a wine that only the Chef de Cave may declare a "vintage year".
"The grapes are never the same from one year to the next. If a harvest does not meet Dom Perignon's unyielding standards, there will be no vintage champagne that year. This isn't a value judgment - it's an aesthetic vision" says Dom Pérignon Chef de Cave Richard Geoffroy.
The unique personality of Dom Pérignon is born of this creative commitment. It is this tension between the distinctive qualities of a year and the timeless spirit that defines Dom Perignon, an unparalleled sensation that imparts weightlessness, airy richness and suppleness from first impression to the long-lasting finish.
Dom Perignon Rose is not the rule it is the exception. It is always sold in limited numbers because the qualities of the Pinot Noir grapes that the Dom Perignon style requires are truly exceptional as well. This means that each Dom Perignon Rose vintage shares a gene that dictates the very essence of luxury: the rarity of excellence.
Richard Geoffroy, Dom Perignon’s chef de cave explains “What is remarkable about this vintage is that it expresses its generous spirit without renouncing the precision and sophistication that define Dom Perignon Rose”. The 1998 vintage has all the characteristics of DP Rose, showcasing the playfulness, vivacity and vibrations of Pinot Noir without sacrificing the perfect balance between Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes typical of the Dom Perignon style. This play of contrasts build to a high density until it reaches a point of sublime harmony.
Dom Perignon: the best wine in the world.
