2003 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Brut as reviewed by Mike Bampfield-Duggan

http://www.alawine.com/cgi-bin/wbn/rankem.cgi?action=in&id=miguel


Article below courtesy of Mike Bampfield-Duggan of Wine Concept and iafrica.com.

Thank you Mike, great article and to the point, it's clean and very decent wine writing, definitely consumer friendly.

My personal view about Wine Concept, it's a great wine shop, where I normally buy (Newlands shop) my international wines, for my personal palate training and of course enjoyment, and the service has always been exceptional and attentive.


Miguel Chan
Certified Sommelier



Moet & Chandon

Article By: Mike Bampfield-Duggan, Wine Concepts

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:14

Anyone who drinks the good stuff will surely, sometime in their lives, have enjoyed a glass or two from the famous French Champagne House, Moet & Chandon!

This world brand was started by Claude Moet in 1743 and with the help of the remarkable Madame de Pompadour, who was an important figure in the court of Louis XV, the Champagne become popular amoungst the gentry. The wine she said: "Leaves women beautiful after having partaken of it, and makes men witty."

The popularity of the wine spread and was in demand in the halls of the most prominent places in France. In 1769 Claude Moet died and left the business to his grandson Jean-Remy Moet who took the Champagne to the world! In 1832 Jean-Remy retired and his son-in-law Pierre Gabriel Chandon took control of the House and the name Moet & Chandon was entrenched. The House is now part of the LVMH (Louis Vuitton-Moet Hennessy) group.

A vintage champagne implies that the harvest was exceptional and must be made from 100% grapes grown in that year. The Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 2003 is the 68th Vintage from this House and although the harvest was difficult due to a heat wave which played havoc with the fermentation the final result was exceptional.

Recently, I attended a luncheon hosted by Moet at the Cellars Hohenort Hotel in Constantia.

Head Chef Peter Templehof along with Sommelier Miguel Chan created a menu to match several Vintages of Moet — including the 2003. The Grand Vintage 2003 was served with Oolong tea smoked tuna tartare with abalone carpaccio, daikon radish, lime, green tea jelly and caviar! The many flavours of this dish complimented the mature creamy velvety flavours of the wine and it was extraordinary how well the tastes harmonised! (A credit to Miguel and Peter.)

The 2003 is a blend of Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. On the nose one experiences wafts of vanilla, almonds with hints of apricots and poached pears. The palate explodes on entry with a mouthfilling mousse of tiny bubbles which after settling invites the palate to an intimate sensation of silky creamy fruit with a biscotti backdrop followed by a long elegant finish.

The festive season is a time for spoiling ourselves and so I don't feel guilty about the few bottles I bought! I will enjoy some now but will keep a couple for a further taste sensation in years to come.

Expect to pay: R710.00

To order this, contact Wine Concepts.