Moet & Chandon Imperial

Moët & Chandon Impérial is a non-vintage brut Champagne bottled at 12% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Scored 94 points by Decanter magazine, this flagship cuvée has defined celebratory sparkling wine for generations, built on one of the most ambitious blending programs in the Champagne region.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12%  |  Origin: Épernay, Champagne, France  |  Non-Vintage Brut  |  House: Moët & Chandon (est. 1743)

Production & Heritage

Moët & Chandon was founded in 1743 by Claude Moët in Épernay, the heart of France's Champagne region. Impérial is produced using the traditional méthode champenoise — with second fermentation occurring in the bottle — and draws from a blend of Pinot Noir (30–40%), Pinot Meunier (30–40%), and Chardonnay (20–30%). What distinguishes this cuvée is the scale and complexity of its assemblage: the cellar master combines more than 100 individual wines sourced from nearly 280 crus, with 20–30% of the blend consisting of reserve wines from prior vintages, lending consistency and depth year after year.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with bright green apple and fresh citrus peel before moving into white-fleshed stone fruit — pear and white peach — and delicate lime blossom. Behind the fruit, subtle brioche and toasted nut aromas emerge, hinting at the reserve wine component and extended lees contact.

Taste: On the palate, the entry is rounded and generous, leading with ripe pear and mandarin orange. The mid-palate introduces a fleshy, open-knit texture with lemon zest acidity cutting through a soft, almost creamy sweetness. Toward the peak, a savory minerality and hint of cherry keep the fruit in check, balancing richness with precision.

Finish: The finish is moderate in length, with a pleasant grip of lemon pith bitterness and lingering brioche. Fine persistent bubbles carry the aftertaste cleanly, leaving a fresh mineral impression.

How to Drink Impérial

Impérial shows well served chilled between 8–10°C (46–50°F) in a tulip-shaped glass, which concentrates the floral and brioche aromatics better than a wide coupe. It also performs admirably in cocktails. A French 75 benefits from its citrus-driven acidity and brut dryness. A Champagne Cocktail (sugar cube, Angostura bitters, Cognac) plays off Impérial's toasty reserve-wine character. A Kir Royale pairs naturally, with crème de cassis amplifying the wine's underlying red-fruit notes of cherry and pear.

Best For

• Toasting milestones such as weddings, promotions, or New Year's Eve
• Gifting someone who appreciates classic French Champagne
• Hosting a multi-course dinner with aperitif service
• Introducing a newcomer to the Champagne category with a reliable benchmark

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Impérial taste like? Moët & Chandon Impérial delivers rounded flavors of green apple, ripe pear, and mandarin layered with brioche and fresh mineral undertones. The acidity is bright but balanced, with a clean lemon-pith finish.

How does Impérial compare to Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label? Both are non-vintage brut Champagnes bottled at 12% ABV and occupy a similar market position, making them the two most frequently compared flagship cuvées. Impérial tends toward a fruitier, more floral profile, while Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label is generally considered slightly more biscuity and full-bodied due to its higher proportion of Pinot Noir–dominated blends.

Is Impérial good for beginners? Yes — its approachable fruit-forward character and balanced acidity make it one of the most accessible entry points into quality Champagne. The rounded sweetness and fine mousse appeal to palates still exploring sparkling wine.

Where is Impérial made? Moët & Chandon Impérial is produced in Épernay, in the heart of France's Champagne appellation. Grapes are sourced from nearly 280 crus spread across the region's principal growing areas.

What foods pair well with Impérial? Fresh oysters on the half shell complement its mineral backbone. Smoked salmon or sashimi-grade tuna echo the citrus notes. Soft triple-cream cheeses like Brillat-Savarin mirror the brioche richness. Light canapés with goat cheese and pear highlight the fruit, and salted almonds accentuate the toasted-nut undertones.

What sizes does Impérial come in? Moët & Chandon Impérial is widely available in 187ml split, 375ml half-bottle, standard 750ml, 1.5L magnum, and larger-format bottles including jeroboam (3L) and methuselah (6L).

Is Impérial worth the price? Impérial positions as a premium non-vintage Champagne, sitting at the upper end of the widely available tier. Given its 94-point Decanter rating and the complexity delivered by blending over 100 wines with significant reserve-wine content, it represents solid value within the prestige-house category.

Why Impérial?

The defining strength of Moët & Chandon Impérial is scale without compromise. Drawing on more than 100 component wines from nearly 280 crus — with up to 30% reserve wines — the cellar team achieves a consistency of style that few non-vintage Champagnes can match at this production level. Critical recognition backs this up: Decanter awarded it 94 points, Wine Spectator scored it 93, and Wine Enthusiast rated it 92. Since 1743, the house has built one of Champagne's largest reserve-wine libraries, and Impérial is the purest expression of that accumulated knowledge — a cuvée that balances accessibility with genuine complexity.