Moët & Chandon Champagne Grand Vintage 2003

The Grand Vintage 2003, the 68th from the Maison, is a powerful wine:its velvety maturity is immediately apparent, forceful in its creamyblondness.The first notes of vanilla, almond and hazelnut are followed by nuancesof colourful sun-soaked Summer fruits – apricots, yellow peaches,nectarines, poached pears. Gradually this generous fruitiness is joinedby a soft spiciness of cinnamon, gingerbread and freshly-ground coffee.

Deep and structured, the Grand Vintage 2003 is fleshly, ample and smooth.This unctuous sensuality – reminiscent of leather and cashmere – seguesinto a warm finale of slightly acid licorice and candied grapefruit.From an extraordinary year and an incomparable fruit, Moët & Chandonhas created a profound champagne, one that announces its colourswithout artifice, intrigues by its honesty.A wine that, having weathered all challenges, has come through with arobust serenity, a formal generosity and a comfortable presence.

WE93
Wine Enthusiast
Moët's vintage, from the hot, low-yielding 2003 vintage, has an unusually high percentage of Pinot Meunier (43%), suggesting there is a distinct character to the year. It's certainly powerful and intense, soft initially, hinting at toast and yeast, the fruit almost sweet, even though the wine is a brut style. It is the rich strawberry flavor that's most surprising on a wine that really has integrated impressively.

RP92
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Made from 43% Pinot Meunier, 29% Pinot Noir and 28% Chardonnay, the 2003 Grand Vintage (in this case tasted from a Magnum) opens with a rich, ripe and intense fruit on the nose where vanilla and hazelnut flavors intermix with ripe and stewed pip fruits. Full-bodied and very well structured, this is a very rich, round, intense and powerful Champagne with good tension and persistence in the finish. This is Champagne to be drunk from big Burgundy glasses with food.

WS91
Wine Spectator
A rich, opulent style, offering peach, apricot and ginger flavors. Full-bodied and muscular, yet with a firm structure keeping it all focused and a nice tangy finish. Drink now through 2018.

W&S91
Wine & Spirits
A classical style, this could be a yardstick for measuring other Champagnes. It's rich in the middle, clean in the end, with plenty of tension to hold the wine tight. More mineral than fruity, this has the meadow flower aspect of fresh butter and cream. Delicious with pan-roasted sole.