Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017 was born from one of Champagne's more challenging recent growing seasons. Severe frost, summer heat and late August rain created difficult conditions, particularly for Pinot Noir. The response was ruthless selection in both vineyard and winery, resulting in exceptionally small production, in fact, Dom Pérignon describes 2017 as the most limited release in the Maison's history.
The final blend is unusually Chardonnay driven, comprising approximately 61% Chardonnay and 39% Pinot Noir. That higher proportion of Chardonnay gives the 2017 an intriguing combination of richness, energy and mineral tension.
After extended maturation on the lees, the wine was disgorged in 2024 with a low dosage of around 5g/L, giving it an Extra Brut-like dryness and allowing the vintage's fruit, minerality and structure to remain firmly in focus.
The style is powerful but precise. Candied citrus, lemon, dried apricot and white flowers meet toasted bread, hazelnut and subtle smoky notes, while a fine mousse and vibrant acidity carry everything towards a long, distinctly saline finish.
It's also historically significant: 2017 was the final Dom Pérignon vintage overseen by long serving Chef de Cave Richard Geoffroy, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of the Vincent Chaperon era.
Not exactly your average bottle of bubbles.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Luminous pale gold with fine, energetic bubbles and excellent clarity.
Nose: Complex and immediately distinctive. Jasmine and white flowers meet candied citrus peel, lemon and orange, followed by dried apricot, toasted bread, hazelnut and the subtle smoky, reductive character associated with Dom Pérignon.
Palate: Concentrated and beautifully textured, balancing ripe fruit with striking freshness. Candied lemon, orchard fruit and dried apricot develop alongside toast, almond and subtle spice. The mousse is fine and creamy, while vibrant acidity and gentle phenolic bitterness provide tension and structure.
Finish: Exceptionally persistent, moving from citrus and toasted notes into chalky minerality and a distinctly saline, mouth-watering conclusion.
Technical Details
Producer: Dom Pérignon
Origin: Champagne, France
Appellation: Champagne AOC
Category: Prestige Vintage Champagne
Vintage: 2017
Grape Varieties: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Blend: Approximately 61% Chardonnay, 39% Pinot Noir
Dosage: Approximately 5g/L
Disgorgement: 2024
ABV: 12.5%
Bottle Size: 750ml
Style: Brut Vintage Champagne
Critics & Accolades
98 Points – James Suckling
98 Points – Vinous
95 Points – Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
94 Points – Wine Spectator
Food Pairing
Dom Pérignon 2017 has enough concentration and structure to go far beyond the traditional Champagne-and-oysters routine.
Think lobster, langoustines, scallops, roast turbot, caviar, sushi and sashimi, or richer poultry dishes. Its citrus character and salinity make seafood an obvious match, while the toasted, nutty complexity developed through extended ageing allows it to stand alongside considerably richer food.
Then again, if you've opened Dom Pérignon 2017, nobody is going to complain that you forgot to provide canapés.
Why It's Worth a Look
There are plenty of prestigious Champagnes. Dom Pérignon 2017 is particularly interesting because of the vintage itself.
This wasn't a year where Champagne simply handed winemakers perfect fruit. The difficult conditions demanded severe selection, particularly after late-season rain affected Pinot Noir. What survived that process went into an unusually Chardonnay-heavy Dom Pérignon produced in remarkably limited quantities.
The result has received serious critical praise, including 98 points from both James Suckling and Vinous, while retaining enough structure and acidity for significant further development in bottle.
Add the historical significance of this being the final vintage of Richard Geoffroy's tenure, and 2017 becomes more than simply the next Dom Pérignon release.
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