Dom Perignon Brut 2017

Dom Pérignon Brut 2017 is a prestige cuvée vintage Champagne from Épernay, France, bottled at 12.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 97 points by Antonio Galloni of Vinous, who called it "a wild, exotic Dom Pérignon" and "a sort of mini-2002," this release stands out as the smallest production volume in the house's history — a rare document of one of Champagne's most challenging growing seasons.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12.5%  |  Origin: Épernay, Champagne, France  |  Vintage: 2017  |  Producer: Moët & Chandon (LVMH)

Production & Heritage

Dom Pérignon is the prestige cuvée of Moët & Chandon, one of Champagne's largest and most historic houses, owned by LVMH. In a radical departure from house tradition, Chef de Caves Vincent Chaperon built the 2017 around a Chardonnay-dominant blend of 61% Chardonnay and 39% Pinot Noir — a structure reminiscent of the revered 1970 and 2005 vintages. The grapes were sourced from eight Grand Crus — Aÿ, Bouzy, Verzenay, Mailly, Chouilly, Cramant, Avize, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger — along with the legendary Hautvillers Premier Cru. Primary fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks, followed by secondary fermentation in bottle via the traditional Méthode Champenoise. The wine spent over seven years on the lees before disgorgement, with a dosage of 4.5 g/L. The 2017 vintage was shaped by drought and rot pressure that devastated much of the Pinot Noir crop, resulting in the smallest release volume Dom Pérignon has ever produced.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The bouquet opens with orange peel, dried apricot, and burnt buttered toast, layered over nuances of dried flowers, toasted hazelnut, and cacao bean. The house's signature smoky reduction anchors the nose, giving way to a rich, crème pâtissière quality that distinguishes this vintage from its more citrus-forward predecessors.

Taste: Full-bodied and concentrated on entry, with a rich core of white peach, crushed white raspberry, and white cherry fruit. The mid-palate reveals dried apple, candied lemon, and grapefruit pith, carried by a fine, persistent mousse and vibrant, chiseled acidity. Attractively bitter phenolics add structure, while a pillowy texture and open-knit profile reflect the warmth of the 2017 growing season held in tension by the Chardonnay-led nerve.

Finish: Long and resonant, with saline, chalky minerality, oyster shell, and toast point lingering through the close. The structuring phenolics reassert themselves, leaving a dry, focused impression that rewards patience.

How to Drink Dom Pérignon 2017

This Champagne rewards neat sipping from a tulip-shaped glass at around 50–54°F, allowing the complex aromatics to develop gradually. A brief rest after pouring helps the mousse settle and the deeper fruit tones emerge.

• Champagne Cocktail: The rich texture and toasty depth hold up beautifully against a sugar cube and Angostura bitters, adding complexity beyond what a non-vintage Champagne can deliver.
• French 75: The Chardonnay-dominant acidity and lemon zest character integrate seamlessly with gin and fresh lemon juice for a refined, layered take on this classic.
• Bellini (variation): The white peach notes in the 2017 echo the peach purée in a Bellini, creating a harmonious and luxurious pairing — though most will prefer to enjoy a wine of this caliber on its own.

Best For

• Celebrating milestone occasions like engagements, anniversaries, or significant achievements
• Gifting a wine collector or Champagne enthusiast who values rare, low-production vintages
• Anchoring a multi-course tasting dinner alongside seafood and aged cheeses
• Adding to a cellar for medium-term aging, given the wine's structural backbone and acidity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Dom Pérignon 2017 taste like? Dom Pérignon 2017 is full-bodied and concentrated, with flavors of white peach, dried apricot, candied lemon, and toasted almond, supported by a fine mousse and chiseled acidity. The finish is long and saline, with chalky minerality and toast.

How does Dom Pérignon 2017 compare to Krug Grande Cuvée? Krug Grande Cuvée is a multi-vintage blend known for richness, weight, and complexity, while Dom Pérignon 2017 is a single-vintage wine defined by the elegance and tension of one exceptional year. As Jancis Robinson has noted, Krug tends to be "a more intellectual wine," whereas Dom Pérignon leans toward refinement and vintage character.

Is Dom Pérignon 2017 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a prestige cuvée designed to be appreciated on its own. The layered aromatics, fine mousse, and long finish reward slow, contemplative sipping at cellar temperature.

Where is Dom Pérignon 2017 made? Dom Pérignon 2017 is produced by Moët & Chandon in Épernay, in the heart of the Champagne region of northern France. The grapes are sourced from eight Grand Cru villages and the Premier Cru of Hautvillers, the historic abbey where Dom Pierre Pérignon worked.

What foods pair well with Dom Pérignon 2017? Fresh oysters complement the wine's saline, chalky minerality. Seared scallops with brown butter echo its toasted hazelnut notes. Aged Comté cheese mirrors the richness and brioche character. Lobster or langoustine match the full-bodied texture. Lemon tart or white peach desserts harmonize with the fruit and citrus profile.

What sizes does Dom Pérignon 2017 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, and Dom Pérignon vintages are also typically available in magnum (1.5L) format, though availability varies by market.

Is Dom Pérignon 2017 worth the price? Dom Pérignon 2017 positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Champagne, and the 2017 vintage carries additional rarity given its historically small production volume. With 97 points from Vinous and 96 from James Suckling, critical consensus supports its standing among recent top-tier releases from the house.

Why Dom Pérignon 2017?

The 2017 is unlike any recent Dom Pérignon release. Its Chardonnay-dominant blend — 61% Chardonnay to 39% Pinot Noir — marks a dramatic structural shift that hasn't been seen since the 2005, and before that, the 1970. This isn't a stylistic choice made lightly; drought and rot ravaged the Pinot Noir crop in 2017, and Chef de Caves Vincent Chaperon chose to bottle what survived as a faithful record of the year rather than sacrifice the vintage entirely. The result is the smallest production in Dom Pérignon's history, a wine that earned 97 points from Vinous and 95+ from Wine Advocate, and one that rewards collectors and drinkers with a tension and Chardonnay-driven nerve that sets it apart from the broader, Pinot-anchored house style.