Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 2015

Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2015 is a vintage Champagne from France bottled at 12.5% ABV in a 750ml format, blending three classic grape varieties from a single harvest year. Awarded 97 points by James Suckling and a Platinum medal at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards, this release captures one of Champagne's warmest growing seasons in recent memory with remarkable poise.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12.5%  |  Origin: Champagne, France  |  Vintage: 2015  |  Producer: Moët & Chandon

Production & Heritage

Moët & Chandon, founded in 1743 in Épernay, is one of the oldest and largest Champagne houses in the world, now part of the LVMH luxury group. The Grand Vintage 2015 is produced using the traditional méthode champenoise with a blend of 44% Pinot Noir, 32% Chardonnay, and 24% Meunier — a trio that reflects Chef de Cave Benoît Gouez's interpretation of the warm, sun-drenched 2015 growing season. The wine spent six years aging on its lees before disgorgement, and was finished with a notably low dosage of just 5 grams per liter, well below the 8–12 g/l range typical of most brut Champagnes. This restrained dosage represents a deliberate stylistic choice, allowing the wine's natural character and what the house describes as a "noble bitterness" to emerge rather than being softened by residual sugar.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The bouquet opens with warm, yeasty tones of fresh brioche and breadcrumbs before moving into almond paste and marzipan. A second layer reveals floral notes of elderflower and jasmine, followed by ripe fruit — white peach, pear, and lemon confit.

Taste: The entry is generous and ample, with a supple richness that reflects the warmth of the vintage. Mid-palate, the wine shifts toward crystalline tension and nervy acidity, balanced by floral, aniseed, and mentholated nuances that bring unexpected freshness. Watermelon, ripe peach, and pastry notes weave through a structured, layered palate.

Finish: The finish is long and finely textured, lingering on a distinctive note of fresh almonds and delicate bitterness. That hallmark low-dosage dryness carries through cleanly, leaving a mineral, almost saline impression.

How to Drink Grand Vintage 2015

This Champagne is best served chilled to around 50–54°F in a white wine glass or tulip-shaped flute that allows its complex aromatics to open fully. Drinking it neat is the most rewarding approach, though a brief rest in the glass after pouring reveals additional layers. A Champagne Cocktail (with a sugar cube and Angostura bitters) complements its toasty depth without overwhelming it. A French 75 benefits from the wine's brisk acidity and floral character, creating a more complex version of the classic. A Bellini variation using the Grand Vintage adds serious structure and an almond undertone that lifts the peach purée.

Best For

• Celebrating a milestone anniversary or major life event
• Gifting a wine collector who appreciates vintage-dated Champagne
• Hosting an upscale dinner party as the opening pour
• Building a cellar of age-worthy Champagne vintages

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Grand Vintage 2015 taste like? It delivers rich brioche and marzipan up front, followed by white peach, elderflower, and a nervy mineral tension, finishing with a distinctive fresh almond bitterness shaped by its low 5 g/l dosage.

How does Grand Vintage 2015 compare to Dom Pérignon? Both come from Moët Hennessy and share access to some of the same Champagne vineyards, which is why they are often described as close siblings. Grand Vintage 2015 tends toward a richer, more approachable style with its three-grape blend, while Dom Pérignon typically emphasizes greater austerity and longer aging before release.

Is Grand Vintage 2015 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its six years on lees and complex layering of pastry, fruit, and floral notes make it an ideal Champagne for contemplative, unhurried drinking on its own.

Where is Grand Vintage 2015 made? It is produced by Moët & Chandon at their historic cellars in Épernay, in the heart of the Champagne appellation in northeastern France.

What foods pair well with Grand Vintage 2015? Seared scallops highlight its brioche richness. Aged Comté cheese echoes its nutty, toasty character. Smoked salmon complements the wine's mineral backbone. Lobster risotto mirrors its creamy texture, and almond tart plays directly into the fresh almond finish.

What sizes does Grand Vintage 2015 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, though Moët & Chandon occasionally produces magnum (1.5L) formats for its Grand Vintage cuvée.

Is Grand Vintage 2015 worth the price? It positions as a premium vintage Champagne, sitting above Moët's non-vintage Impérial Brut but below the prestige-tier Dom Pérignon, and its critical acclaim — including 97 points from James Suckling and 96 from Vinous — supports strong value within the vintage Champagne category.

Why Grand Vintage 2015?

The 2015 vintage was one of the hottest and driest growing seasons Champagne had experienced in decades, and the resulting wine captures that warmth while maintaining the tension and freshness that define great Champagne. The decision to use just 5 grams per liter of dosage — far below the brut norm — signals a confident, modern approach that lets the fruit and terroir speak with minimal intervention. Critical reception has been exceptional across the board, with 97 points from James Suckling, 96 from Vinous, 95 from both Wine Spectator and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, and a Platinum medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards. For anyone seeking a serious, cellar-worthy vintage Champagne from a house with nearly three centuries of history, this 2015 release stands as one of the strongest Grand Vintage editions in recent memory.