Released in July 2020, Dom Perignon Vintage 2010 greeted the world of wine lovers with a menacing message “Harsh, contrasted, perilous”.
Those are the three adjectives Dom Perignon has chosen to describe vintage 2010. Indeed, unlike how things were in Bordeaux, 2010 vintage in Champagne has proven to be a challenging one. It is therefore no surprise that not that many Champagne Houses released a vintage champagne for 2010. For those who do, stringent sorting and decisive calls have to be made when it comes to what, when and where to pick – and not to pick.
The traditionalists would question why Dom Perignon decided to release a “difficult vintage” champagne. After all, the convention is that vintage champagnes are made to be representative expression of exceptional vintages. Recent years such practice has changed, as champagne connoisseurship evolves from pursuing consistency, to embracing personality of a vintage, and of a winemaking philosophy at times.
Here’s what you need to know about Dom Perignon Vintage 2010
Vintage conditions in 2010 for the region of Champagne
- Coldest winter since 1996
- Warm summer comes with torrential rainfall, especially falling on August 15th and 16th (within those two days, the region of Champagne received 2 month worth of rain)
- Combination of humidity and warmth drove berries to ripen rapidly with high risk of botrytis / rot development (something not desirable in Champagne)
- Harvest conditions were optimal as the region’s weather stabilize starting early September. The month remained largely cool and dry.
How did Dom Perignon cope with such challenging conditions?
- The house has given up 20% Pinot Noir fruit in order to focus all available resources to pick the rest of harvest at the right time and place
- Much reduced Pinot Noir harvest means that this vintage sees a higher proportion of Chardonnay in the blend (which is quite unusual of Dom Perignon)
- Initial blend saw the cellarmaster putting about 60% Chardonnay in the blend.
- Final blend of Dom Perignon 2010 is 54% Chardonnay, 46% Pinot Noir.
Vintage 2010 style – in technical terms
- 3rd highest sugar content for the decade 2000 – 2010
- 2nd highest level of acidity for the decade 2000 – 2010
- In terms of sugar content, vintage 2010 is comparable to that of 2002 and 2003. It’s higher than 2005, 2006 and 2009.
- In terms of acidity level, vintage 2010 is just slightly lower than the outstanding 2008 vintage.
- Dosage: 5g/L
- Disgorgement: February 2019
Vintage 2010 style – in tasting terms
- The key theme is generosity of fruit. 2010 Dom Perignon is packed full with tropical fruit and ripe stone fruit.
- At its 1st plenitude, the champagne offers an open-knit texture and charming taste profile up front; whilst maintaining well-struck tension on mid- and back-palate. The champagne closes with a saline, savoury finish.
Vintage 2010 in the words of Dom Perignon
- Nose: “The luminous sweetness of tropical fruit – green mango, melon, pineapple – instantly shines. It then cedes to more temperate notes, the tingle of orange zest, the mist of a mandarin orange. The wine breathes, revealing its freshness. The bloom after the rain. A tactile sensation of peony, jasmine and lilac.”
- Palate: “The wine immediately imposes its ample presence, full and massive. A sappy sensation dominates as the tactile is rapidly overtaken by the aromatic. The body unfolds: generous, firm and controlled. Then it contracts, letting the wine vibrate with spices and pepper. The energy is sustained to a scintillating, saline finish.”
This blog post is a summary of key points drawn from an interview first published on July 7th, 2020 on The-Buyer.net. Official information are extracted from Dom Perignon official site. We thank both sources for providing insights and information for the compilation of the above notes.