What a magnificent bouquet for this Dom Pérignon 2012! Pastry, a hint of smoke and classic brioche notes provide a compelling counterpart to eager yet elegant aromas of citrus (lime, tangerine and kumquat) joined by those of fresh fruit, herbs, liquorice and menthol. There is even a refreshing note of ivy. The palate is tense, vibrant and very fresh despite its impressive density, which meets its match with an unending finish. This 2012 embodies the very essence of Dom Pérignon with such a concentrated degree of intensity, along with a capacity for ageing that it is surely destined for a second life in a P2 edition. Drinking Window: 2021 - 2050
Tasted by: Yohan Castaing (at Bordeaux, 01 May 2021)
Part of First taste: Dom Pérignon new releases

The 2012 was a vintage of both freshness and density. At Dom Pérignon they really played the density card, effortlessly compacting together so much delicious, crunchy, perfectly ripe fruit. The nose is welcoming, harmonious and deeply fruity with Dom Pérignon’s hallmark fragrant smoky layeres. But the elements of surprise catch up with you on the palate. At first the wine feels deceptively light but then comes the fruity power and sheer volume. The wine’s most unique feature is the scintillating or tingling sensation that takes over and energises the rich, round and compact palate. It is almost as electrically charged as this nervousness and vibrancy bring such an exciting dynamism on the long, deliciously succulent palate.

The 2012 Dom Pérignon is a dense, powerful wine. I am almost shocked by its vinous intensity and raw, unbridled power. The 2012 reminds me of the 2003, but with more finesse and not quite as pushed. Mildew, rain and frost were challenges and resulted in low yields, something that was further compounded by warm, dry weather that concentrated the fruit even more. Those qualities result in a dense Dom Pérignon endowed with real phenolic intensity. It is one of the most reticent young Doms I can remember tasting, I wouldn’t even think of opening a bottle for at least a few years.

The 2012 Champagne is 51% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir and has 4 grams per liter dosage. Its style is finessed and elegant, revealing a soft, smoky perfume of fresh white flowers, pear, and fresh bread dough. The palate is focused and long, with a polished mousse, and offers notes of lime blossom, white peach, and chalky minerality as well as long perfume resonating on the finish. Drink 2024-2044. AF

Wonderful elegance and balance to this Dom Pérignon with cooked apple, lemon and hints of white pepper and salt. It’s medium-bodied with really fine bubbles and balance. Spicy at the end. So wonderfully fresh, linear and long. Racy and elegant. A DP that invites to drink right now. All about finesse. Tension, too, with precise phenolics and bright acidity on the back palate. Subtle energy. Drinkable now, but will develop beautifully in the bottle.

The 2012 Dom Pérignon has turned out very well indeed, unwinding in the glass with notes of Anjou pear, smoke, toasted nuts, freshly baked bread and crisp stone fruit. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's still tightly wound, its incipiently fleshy core of fruit framed by racy acids and chalky grip, complemented by a classy pinpoint mousse. A touch drier and a touch less reductive than the 2008 out of the gates, these two vintages are clearly destined to be compared for some time to come; but at this early stage, my instinct is that the 2012 will have the edge in the long term. WK

I had the privilege of tasting the new Dom Pérignon with Vincent Chaperon six months before the official launch. Of course, it is then important to point out that the edges of the champagne will have become a little rounder and softer when you take on yet another classic Dom Pérignon. The winemakers have worked with the vintage's contrasts and extremes and let nerve and excitement have full freedom. Today, the wine is a bit unredeemed and compact like a nervous explosive sprinter waiting for the starting shot in the starting block. The dosage is moderate to add clarity and sharpness to the contrasting flavors. The mousse is nervous and energetic and shows very clearly its role as an aroma carrier of spices and chalky minerals when they crack against the palate and pass the rear nasal passage and give the taste a tickling depth via its inner scent signals. Some of the contrast stems from the high acidity of the cold weather and is somewhat reminiscent of 1996 where the phenolic maturity was not particularly high and provided space for the roasted and mineral-driven secondary aromas. At the same time, there is a roundness without direct creaminess. To create this contrasting symphony, the winemakers used an even higher proportion of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Aÿ and Chouilly than usual, as these vineyards were particularly successful this year. An extremely interesting wine that will be drunk far too early, as I predict that the quality peak will appear after 2030. If you drink up all your bottles too early, you can take comfort in the fact that the wine will be even better and deeper with all the features retained under the Plénitude 2 label. July 2023