Today on the Friday Bubble, we compare the new release of Dom Perignon Vintage 2013 alongside its predecessor Dom Perignon 2012.

Dom Pérignon is only available as a vintage champagne and is only produced in 'exceptional' years.

The 2013 winemaking year proved a welcome reconnection with the glorious past of late harvest vintages going into October. The hot and dry summer was the sunniest on record in the Champagne region, proving particularly beneficial for the quality of the grapes and ended up being a higher yielding year.

2013 hits a perfect middle ground between the fruit forward 2012 and the minerality of the 2008.

95 → 98/100 Vintage 2013
Essi Avellan MW
“At first, the nose comes across soft and toasty, less on the gunpowder but more on the toasted bread side. A little shy perhaps, but the bouquet is impeccably pure and deliciously fruity once it reveals more of itself after a short while in the glass. There is ripe yellow plum fruit but also a brisk menthol breeze as well as some sweeter, even tropical aromas. All nuances are perfectly integrated and elegantly subtle for the time being, echoing a reservedness speaking of longevity. On the soft cushiony palate, the linearity and vivacity are first to be noted, but soon after one gets charmed by the creamy-caressing texture. The dosage is perfectly balanced at 5g/l. Much racier and perhaps a little more austere than most recent Dom Pérignon vintages, however, this coolly fruity, tight and focused wines has what true longevity takes. It has evolved slowly until now and will be one to defy time. ”

96 → 98/100 Vintage 2012
Essi Avellan MW
“In a near-perfect year, following a truly challenging growing season, Dom Pérignon ended up being equipped with an amazing choice of exciting and versatile building blocks for the cuvée, especially on the Pinot Noir front: Aÿ, Verzenay, Bouzy, Hautvillers... Some other vintages were vinegrowers vintages but with this one the chef de cave really wore the blender’s hat. The 2012 was a vintage of both freshness and density. At Dom Pérignon they really played the density card, effortlessly compacting together so much delicious, crunchy, perfectly ripe fruit. The nose is welcoming, harmonious and deeply fruity with Dom Pérignon’s hallmark fragrant smoky layeres. But the elements of surprise catch up with you on the palate. At first the wine feels deceptively light but then comes the fruity power and sheer volume. The wine’s most unique feature is the scintillating or tingling sensation that takes over and energises the rich, round and compact palate. It is almost as electrically charged as this nervousness and vibrancy bring such an exciting dynamism on the long, deliciously succulent palate. Dom Pérignon have made it again, they surprised me by playing on their fortes of incomparable resources and audacious winemaking.”