2008 recently released, 2012 eagerly anticipated, a general price increase and COVID. It would seem 2010 Dom Perignon has so many things against it on the outside, but on the inside it is a truly beautiful thing. And that is all that matters to me.
2010 Dom Perignon
Lovely young champagne color, after 30 minutes of airing quite floral and alluring on the nose with white flowers, hints of marshmallow and roasted walnuts, and overhead a long steady note of sweet lemon fruit like a joyous sunny sky, on the palate a bit closed at first but with a half hour this opened beautifully, medium weight with the fruit character dominant at the moment- an array of citrus flavors with a sweet lemon note taking the lead, fine long finish with robust laser-precise acids, Granny Smith apple note as well, as on the nose this is especially joyous right now on the palate, after an hour the roasted walnut notes come on stronger to balance out the fruit notes, a well-rounded Dom Perignon in the more classic style but without the sheer mass of the 2008 or 2002, it reminds me most of the 2004 for being a strong well-rounded mid-weight, but there are shadows of 2002 with that pure note of sweet lemon fruit and also 1998 for its purity and floral expression, though the wines are very different- I would also say this might be the most feminine Dom since the 1982, all-in-all a very beautiful Dom vintage- but also a singular one, and perhaps that is because the current market demand now requires the great houses to make vintages they might not have in past, the beautiful outcome here is certainly a testament to Dom Perignon’s rightful place among the very finest of champagne producers, given collector frenzy for the 2008 and 2012- I imagine an even greater proportion than usual of the 2010 will be opened young in homes and restaurants, that is good news for the many fortunate who will enjoy this unusually precocious vintage, but for any who share my great love for Dom Perignon- you need a box of this in the cellar, in about 10 years when it starts creaming I think this is going to be an especially beautiful example and particularly well suited to accompany fine desserts in addition to the variety of other foods with which it pairs so well.
**()+, now to 2040, I imagine this will always be approachable, but I anticipate the real fireworks in 6-8 years time.
