9. Moët & Chandon, Grand Vintage, 2009
It has long been known among the wine trade that Champagne’s biggest maison, Moët & Chandon, makes first-rate vintage fizz. Not only that, but because the brand is so famous for its non-vintage, called Brut Imperial, the much smaller-scale single-harvest offering from this huge house is very attractively priced. It is also, in my view, brilliantly packaged, with the vintage clearly displayed in a large white script, as though is was chalked onto the label.
Furthermore, although many in Champagne are talking up the 2008 harvest, the riper, more forward 2009 from Moët gets my vote, and seems to suit the winemaking style of this maison better – Moët opts for a fresh ‘reductive’ style of fizz that complements ripe base wines.
Having thought that when the 2009 vintage was first shown to the trade alongside the 2008 from Moët, it was satisfying to then award the 2009 a Gold-medal score when it was tasted blind earlier this year. While the 2008 is a great Champagne, right now, it seems to lack the depth and generosity of the 2009.
In short, Moët vintage Champagnes are a brilliant buy, especially the forward 2009, even though it only just squeaks in beneath our £50 price cut-off.
Approximate retail price for Moët & Chandon, Grand Vintage, 2009: £48
