Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015

Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015: Pure Generosity, Balance, and a Wonderful Feel

When a new Dom Pérignon vintage comes along, it’s always something special for wine lovers, and the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 is a really fascinating Champagne from this top-notch house. It comes from a year with some pretty dramatic weather swings, and this 2015 bottling has an amazing mix of generosity and balance. It’s packed with rich aromas and has a unique, almost touchable feeling in your mouth that makes for an incredible tasting experience. You can find this standout Champagne right here at The General Wine Company.

The Dom Pérignon Story: Always Aiming for the Best

The name Dom Pérignon has meant the very best in Champagne. The House looks back to Dom Pierre Pérignon, a Benedictine monk who, way back in 1668, became the cellar master at the Abbey of Hautvillers. He had one big aim: to create "the best wine in the world." While people often say he invented Champagne, what he really did was bring in game-changing ways of growing grapes and making wine. He was a genius at blending different grapes and areas – an art called 'assemblage' – and knew that using Pinot Noir with Chardonnay made for more balanced and complex wines. He was also all about top-quality vineyard care.

This forward-thinking attitude and constant drive for perfection are still what Dom Pérignon is all about. Every single bottle is a vintage Champagne, which means it’s made from grapes picked in just one exceptional year. If the harvest isn't up to their super high standards, they simply don’t make a Dom Pérignon that year. This dedication means every vintage truly shows off its particular growing season, while always having those classic Dom Pérignon signs: precision, intensity, and a beautifully smooth harmony. The current Chef de Cave, Vincent Chaperon, carries on this tradition, making sure each vintage, like this 2015, grabs the unique spirit of its year while sticking to the Dom Pérignon signature style.

The 2015 Vintage: A Year of Ups, Downs, and Delicious Results

The 2015 winegrowing year in Champagne was full of big differences. It started with a really cold spring, which then switched to a long stretch of hot, dry weather right through to the end of August. These conditions were a bit of a challenge, but in the end, the vines were in perfect shape when picking started on September 7th, under glorious sunshine. The grapes themselves were wonderfully generous and perfectly balanced – just what you want for a wine with deep aromas and great structure. The Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 is the direct result of this special year, really capturing what made it unique.

Tasting the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015: What’s it Like?

The Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 makes a real impression from the moment you pour it, known for its comforting strength and a noticeable, almost physical presence when you taste it.

• Look: While the notes don't spell it out, you can expect a bright, glowing colour, hinting at its energy and complexity, with those tiny, lasting bubbles that Dom Pérignon is famous for.
• Nose: To start with, the 2015 is a bit mysterious on the nose. But give it a moment, and it opens up into a complex bunch of aromas. You get intense toasted smells and hints of cocoa, which are nicely balanced by delicate floral notes of lime blossom, jasmine, and peony. This lovely mix is made even better with a classy touch of spice, like aniseed and cardamom. There's also a clear fruity and plant-like freshness, with gentle hints of orange and crisp green papaya. It’s a blend of smells that creates a perfect harmony for anyone who loves a complex, top-quality wine.
• Palate: The 2015 vintage feels impressively broad yet delicate in your mouth, taking you on a unique taste journey. The structure is described as horizontal, wide, and straight – giving it a kind of bright, focused quality. Each sip spreads across your mouth, impressing with really clear, clean tastes that feel more like straight lines than curves. This structured idea is a true trademark of Dom Pérignon, where how it feels in your mouth is key. Flavours of ripe peach and nectarine mix with zingy citrus and a smart touch of gentian’s gentle bitterness, all blending together beautifully. This rich, well-balanced Champagne brilliantly catches the spirit of the amazing places the grapes come from. The feeling it gives you shifts between being uplifting and calming; a subtle, refined bitterness perks you up, while the wine’s natural richness unfolds with a long-lasting, pleasing sensation, leading to a great finish.

Serving Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015: Getting it Just Right

To really get all the complex character of Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015, it’s best to serve it chilled, around 10-12°C. At this temperature, all those complex smells can properly come out without being hidden by being too cold.

When it comes to glasses, you might want to try something other than the usual narrow flute. A tulip-shaped Champagne glass, or even a normal white wine glass, gives the wine more room to breathe. This means you can appreciate the layers of aroma and how the flavours develop much better. Pour it gently to keep those lovely bubbles that add so much to the wine’s feel.

Delicious Food Pairings

The Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 has a fantastic intensity and elegance that means it can make a whole range of food taste even better. Its unique character really shines with top-quality ingredients:

• Seafood: This vintage goes really well with the delicate salty taste and feel of premium seafood. Think about pairing it with fresh caviar, the sweet and juicy taste of king crab legs, or perfectly cooked langoustines. The wine’s crispness and mineral edge will cut through any richness and work with the flavours wonderfully.
• Meats: The Champagne’s aroma and good structure also mean it can pair well with certain meats, especially if they have a bit of a tangy or subtly spiced flavour. Try it with roasted pork (maybe with an apple or citrus sauce), spring lamb with fresh herbs, or even duck breast with a fruity sauce.
• Exotic Flavours: The wine’s complexity is brought out even more by exotic touches. Dishes with kiwi or guava can bring out its fruity side, while the uplifting character of the vintage is a great match for the mild warmth of green curry spices. It’s all about balance, so the wine and food make each other taste even better.

The Perfect Cheese to Go With It

For a truly fantastic cheese match with the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015, we suggest a brilliant British artisan cheese: Tunworth. This soft, bloomy-rind cheese, handmade in Hampshire, is often compared to a top-quality Camembert. Its rich, creamy inside has complex flavours of mushroom, subtle cabbage, and a nutty, earthy quality. The luxurious feel and savoury character of Tunworth will go beautifully with the breadth and touchable nature of the 2015 vintage. The Champagne’s crispness will refresh your palate, while its toasted and fruity notes will match up well with the cheese's complex taste, making for a classy and deeply enjoyable pairing. Another great option would be Baron Bigod, a creamy, Brie-de-Meaux style cheese from Suffolk, with its earthy and mushroom notes, offering another distinguished match.

The Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 isn’t just a Champagne; it’s a taste of a special year, shows off amazing winemaking skill, and invites you to a tasting you won't forget. Explore its deep character and how well it pairs with food at The General Wine Company.