Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017 in gift box is one of those bottles where you immediately see that it is something special, from the iconic bottle shape to the luxurious box surrounding it. This vintage comes from an extremely warm and dry year in which Cellar Master Vincent Chaperon deliberately selected cooler grand cru and premier cru plots to maintain balance and tension. What makes Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017 so special as a gift? It is a champagne that is not only rare and prestigious, but also tells the story of a challenging year that, thanks to precision in the vineyard and cellar, has been transformed into pure class.
The grapes for Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017 come from the Champagne region, around Épernay, with a mosaic of plots in famous grand cru villages such as Aÿ, Bouzy, Verzenay, Mailly, Chouilly, Cramant, Avize and Le Mesnil, supplemented by the historical premier cru vineyards near the Abbey of Hautvillers. These vineyards are among the best in the region and have formed the backbone of Dom Pérignon for decades. The 2017 growing season was characterized by a long period of drought and plenty of sun, with the warmest August in 45 years and an early start to the harvest at the beginning of September. That heat caused significant differences between plots: some vines suffered from water stress, while others remained perfectly balanced, depending on the soil and rainfall. Dom Pérignon was able to draw from a vast collection of grand cru and premier cru vineyards, giving it the freedom to use only those plots where, despite the drought, the grapes still possessed tension, freshness, and precision.
Dom Pérignon is produced exclusively as a vintage, meaning only when the House believes a single harvest year is strong enough to stand on its own. In 2017, this meant an extremely rigorous selection of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with a focus on choosing the best cooler plots. The harvest began in early September, with notably ripe and powerful Pinot Noir and more uneven Chardonnay, which only ended up in the blend after drastic selection. The base wines underwent full malolactic fermentation, which was particularly important for the texture and balance of the final cuvée in such a warm year with low malic acid. After the second fermentation in the bottle, the wine underwent approximately 8 years of aging on the lees in the cellars before being disgorged and finished with a low dosage of around 5 g per liter. This long aging process creates the characteristic creamy mousse, complex layers, and subtle brioche notes, while the relatively modest dosage emphasizes the freshness and the light, typical bitterness of the 2017 vintage.
Pinot Noir – grand cru and premier cru vineyards
Approximately 51% of the blend consists of Pinot Noir from top villages with grand cru and premier cru status. In 2017, this grape provided great concentration, power, and structure, with ripe yellow and stone fruit and a clear, almost tactile grip on the tongue, which gives the wine its depth and length.
Chardonnay – grand cru and premier cru vineyards
The remaining 49% is Chardonnay, sourced from cooler chalky vineyards that retained enough freshness despite the drought. This Chardonnay brings tension, citrus-like energy, and chalky mineral notes, forming the refined, almost vertical backbone against which the ripe fruit aromas stand out beautifully.
