Why is Dom Perignon so Expensive?
The ultimate in luxury, super premium Champagnes, this is definitely an ‘A’ lister on all Champagne lists, and a coveted acquisition for any wine cellar. It is always vintage and commands high prices at auctions all over the world. Adding to this image, it is frequently selected as the Champagne served at prestigious occasions, such as the marriage of the Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer.
Recently, an article on Wine Searcher ranked it as the most sought after Champagne in the World with an average score of 94!
But why is it so expensive? Apart from the prestige associated with it, it is genuinely made to the highest of standards. It is a mixture of the meticulous winemaking in both the winery and vineyard, time from both ageing and intensive labour efforts that go into each bottle, the value of the grapes from exceptional vineyards, the rarity (particular in recent vintages), rich history and of course taste. It is indeed quite a few steps above your average Champagne!
So, what is the Dom Perignon price? These days for their standard Vintage you are looking at a few hundred.
History Of Dom Perignon
Dom Perignon (1638-1715) was a Benedictine monk at the Abbaye de Hautvilliers, in the Champagne region. He is widely recognised as the person who ‘invented‘ Champagne. As well as learning to blend different grapes to create the best quality wines, he perfected the art of making white wine from black grapes; most importantly he discovered the secret and method of secondary fermentation to create the bubbles and the fizz in the bottle (interestingly he regarded the bubbles as a fault with the wine). He then also started the tradition of bottling wine with corks, instead of wooden stoppers, and also started using heavier bottles as the standard ones were likely to explode with the carbon dioxide pressure of the gas!
The current bottle reflects the heavy, traditional bottle shape and style, and the label also harks back to the traditional origins of the product.
Dom Perignon Champagne Styles
Only ever produced in vintage years, the wines come from the very top vineyards, and are a blend of 50/50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In youth, Dom Perignon has a rich, smooth, creamy freshness, which, with age, develops into a glorious wine, of great finesse, with toasty complexity, structure and depth.
I have been lucky enough to try a number of Doms, including a 1996 Rose, the P2, and 3 or 4 other vintages of the white Champagne. It is only ever made in vintage years so tasting notes will differ but generally the wines have a strong brioche presence from ageing as well as a beautiful floral and citrus character. Complexity and minerality are abounding. The P2 in particular stands out, the idea behind this series being it is aged for 15 years in the darkness and perfect conditions of their own cellars, allowing you to skip the impatience and difficulty of maturing it yourself but reaping the tasty results!
Updated on 29th July 2024 by our resident wine expert David Andrews. Read his blog on Instagram @oinosattheoikos