Our friends at Jeroboams were fortunate enough to get an introduction the latest offering from one of the world’s most exciting luxury drinks. We’re jealous, here’s why…
A visit to Leighton House in HollandPark, West London was an opportunity to try the hotly anticipated 2002 Dom Pérignon Rosé. The experience epitomised the LVMH (Louis Vuitton, Moët Hennessy) label at its luxurious, glamorous best.
A visit to Leighton House in HollandPark, West London was an opportunity to try the hotly anticipated 2002 Dom Pérignon Rosé. The experience epitomised the LVMH (Louis Vuitton, Moët Hennessy) label at its luxurious, glamorous best.
Leighton House was the residence of nineteenth-century painter Frederic, Lord Leighton and was designed by George Aitchison as an architectural tribute to Orientalism and the Aesthetic movement, inspired by the bright colour and intricate decorative shapes prevalent in Middle Eastern architecture, and by trips to Marrakech. Amongst the riot of colour adorning the interior of the atrium, an indoor splash pond shimmered with lily pads, amongst which tiny mirrors emblazoned with the Dom Pérignon insignia twinkled.
Ushered into a reception by one of several good-looking twenty-somethings of each gender, the first drink we were served was slightly bland (it was water!) to whet our appetite and portended the following three hour assault on our palates, served against the dizzying riot of colour of the architectural backdrop.
Dom Pérignon’s Chef de Cave, Richard Geoffroy introduced the main attraction in what was originally used as the smoking room. He referred to his creation, the 2002 Rosé, in the manner of simultaneously the artist, scientist, and philosopher: “Here is the passion, here is the mystery…”
Why this wine comes with such excitement is due to the 2002 vintage having already been hailed as the finest in the last five years. Louis Roederer’s Cristal and Krug both earned massive scores from critics, and the 2002 Brut Dom Pérignon achieved a rare perfect score from Jancis Robinson citing “one of the best vintages I can remember”.
The wine itself was worth the pomp and hype, displaying enormous power; yet not without exceptional nuance. The nose flowered into plenty of red and black fruit, characteristic of Pinot Noir which flourished particularly well in the 2002 vintage. In the mouth it presented broad texture, soft but strong, with an immaculate long finish, exciting different sensations with every sip. Though drinkable now, as its many complex parts continue to integrate it promises great expressiveness in years to come; a scintillating prospect.
