96 NAPLES ILLUSTRATED
TASTE
Despite the continuing popularity of Prosecco,
Champagne is still the world’s leading luxury
drink. Each major Champagne house has its
unique style and personality, and the nonvintage
Brut is usually the best introduction (not to men-
tion the bottle with the most accessible price tag).
But there are times when only the best will do, and
at those moments we reach for the tête de cuvée.
If you’re feeling festive this holiday season,
sample some of these tête de cuvée Champagnes
currently on the market.
Dom Pérignon: This was the first prestige
Champagne to appear, with the 1921 vintage re-
leased in 1936. A varying blend of Chardonnay
and Pinot Noir, it is the ultimate expression of the
house of Moët et Chandon and a universal sym-
bol of excellence. The style is ripe, forward, and
accessible.
Dom Pérignon 2006 ($165) has a rich nose
with whiffs of lemon, lime, and melon. The wine
is even more satisfying in the mouth, exhibiting a
full-bodied array of stone fruit and citrus. The tex-
ture here is lush and soft; this is a crowd-pleaser
rather than a bottle for wine geeks. It finishes long,
with a touch of yeast and sweetness.
Formerly known as the Oenothèque series, the
Plenitude wines are special re-releases from the
Moët cellars. The Dom Pérignon Plenitude Brut
2000 ($325) has a complex nose with glimmers
of ginger and candied pear mixed with toasty va-
nilla. It’s complex in the mouth as well, exhibiting
a Sherry-like overlay on a background of fresh-
ness. Amazingly youthful at 17, it ends with inter-
twining notes of ripe pear and stone fruit.
La Grande Dame: The luxury cuvée of Veuve
Clicquot is named for Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin,
the widow at the helm of the Champagne house
from 1805 to 1866. The nose of the 2006 ($145)Celebrate this special time of year with
an exquisite bottle of CHAMPAGNE
Ready to POP
OFF THE VINE
By Mark SpivakLucky visitors to Veuve Clicquot’s Manoir de Verzy can
sample La Grande Dame and other fine Champagnes.