Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial

One of the most important Grandes Marques, Moët & Chandon’s was founded in 1743 by Claude Moët. Their flagship Brut Imperial is the most consumed Champagne in the world, estimated that a bottle of this is popped every 1.3 seconds around the globe. They are also the largest landowner in Champagne with 1,190 hectares (vs the average 2.5 ha). This important cuvée began in 1869, and was known for being drier than its contemporaries at that time, near 100 years before Brut became normal. Today the wine is dosed with 7 g/L (down from 14 > 11 > 9 over the past 2 decades). As dosage has decreased, reserve wines have increased, now up to 30-50%. Though the NV blend changes every year, it’s based on 30-40% pinot noir, followed by pinot meunier and a smaller portion of chardonnay, blended from more than 288 villages (estate and contract, as of 2019), and with at least 24 months on lees. Red apple, lemon, and ample dough lead the cushy palate, with kisses of meringue and almond nougat. While not exciting, this is modernly consistent.