Richard Geoffroy of Dom Prignon on the Nuances of Vintage Champagne

p/p pRichard Geoffroy, Chef de cave, Dom Pandeacute;rignon takes us through the brandandrsquo;s rich legacy, style and its latest offerings, while giving us a glimpse into the nuances of pure and vintage champagne./p pandnbsp;/p pRichard Geoffroy has led an interesting journey, originating in the heart of Champagne countryandmdash; Vertusandmdash;where he grew up among a family of Candocirc;te des Blanc winegrowers. He surprised many, when he chose to study medicine instead of pursuing a career in the wine industry which was perhaps expected of him. A change of heart saw him enrol at the andEacute;cole Nationale dandrsquo;OEnologie in Reims and return to his roots culminating with his association with Dom Pandeacute;rignon. The brand, for its part, has a rich history dating back to 1668 when Dom Pierre Pandeacute;rignon, cellarer of the Benedictine abbey of Hautvillers, set out to make the best wine in the world, a task he achieved, with patrons that included the likes of King Louis XIV. Not much has changed over the years, as the brand today produces some of the finest vintage wine in the world.br /br /strongEdited excerptsbr //strongstrongTell us about the style of Dom Pandeacute;rignon Champagne.andnbsp;/strongbr /Dom Pandeacute;rignonandrsquo;s creation is centred upon its absolute dedication to vintage wines. Dom Pandeacute;rignon wines come exclusively from one year onlyandmdash;a true challenge for a unique interpretation of the seasons, and for reinvention. Dom Pandeacute;rignon also aspires for each of its vintages to have the potential to gradually transform. Seemingly still in the obscurity of the cellars, the wine paradoxically takes on a decisive dynamic. It goes through a metamorphosis; the Dom Pandeacute;rignon style is vibrant, precise, tactile, seamless, fresh yet mature, complex and sensual. Paradox is a recurring feature of Dom Pandeacute;rignonandmdash;so inviting yet so mysterious. br /br /strongCan you take us through the process of creating vintage champagne?andnbsp;/strongbr /Creation at Dom Pandeacute;rignon is a constant reinvention. We have the freedom to keep pushing the envelope, to take risks and to surpass ourselves. Today, each new vintage of Dom Pandeacute;rignon is inspired by the same quest, the willingness to risk going beyond the known and the taste for experimentation. Each vintage is a new beginning.br /strongbr /What about the concept of plandeacute;nitude?andnbsp;/strongbr /Each evolution contributes to Dom Pandeacute;rignonandrsquo;s beautiful singularity. These privileged moments of succession are called andlsquo;plandeacute;nitudesandrsquo;. After three metamorphoses, Dom Pandeacute;rignonandrsquo;s uniqueness is almost completely revealed and accomplished. Such a process can exist nowhere else. During each of the wineandrsquo;s plandeacute;nitudes, certain Dom Pandeacute;rignon traits are distinguished without ever denying the others. Thus, the way in which the wine reveals itself is different each time. This process is the expression of a true vision of wine and a veritable work of its architecture. Each Dom Pandeacute;rignon release in any given vintage apparently enjoys one of three plandeacute;nitudes: the first Dom Pandeacute;rignon plandeacute;nitude occurs between seven and eight years after vintage, second spanning 12 to 15 years, and the third around the time of the wineandrsquo;s 30th birthday./p pandnbsp;/p pstrongIt is said that Dom Pandeacute;rignon is always an assemblage of pinot noir and chardonnay grapes.andnbsp;/strongbr /Dom Pandeacute;rignonandrsquo;s uniqueness is universally acknowledged. Its status makes it an icon of champagne. As such, it is often expected to have a classic or traditional style. But paradoxically, the Dom Pandeacute;rignon is totally unique. Since the very beginning, we have been pursuing an ideal based on a set of strong, simple principles. One of these is the assemblage: Dom Pandeacute;rignon creates the assemblage of each vintage with a perfect balance of black and white grapes. We adjust the assemblage of Dom Pandeacute;rignon Blanc and Rosandeacute; very precisely, with a perfect balance of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. We play with the paradox of opposite and complementary elements to create vibration and tension. From this tense situation is born Dom Pandeacute;rignonandrsquo;s highly intriguing contrast, between apparent fragility and a strong presence./p pandnbsp;/p pstrongWhat are your views on vintage and non-vintage champagnes?andnbsp;/strongbr /Dom Pandeacute;rignon has been from the very beginning, andlsquo;vintage onlyandrsquo; champagne, meaning that it is only made in the best year, and all grapes used to make the wine were harvested in the same year. Many types of champagne by contrast, are non-vintage, which means that the champagne is made from grapes harvested in various years. And if we go back in history, we can say that Dom Pierre Pandeacute;rignon is the spiritual father of all champagnes!br /br /strongHow is the newly launched Dom Pandeacute;rignon vintage 2006andmdash;the fifth successive vintage champagneandmdash;different from the earlier vintage champagnes?andnbsp;/strongbr /With the almost summery weather in September, which made this vintage possible, the grapes matured far more than usual, translating it into an immediate impression of the mildness of the pure, airy, bright bouquet. A floral, fruity pastel aroma then unfolds and quickly darkens into candied fruit, ripe hay and toasted notes, along with hints of liquorice. Needless to say, this magnificent creation emits opulence in the mouth when tasted. Being more complex and edgy, the wine evolves into a silkier texture than creamy. It is safe to say that Dom Pandeacute;rignon 2006 goes a long way to express ripeness, with a modern touch that might well foreshadow others, for even more unique situations to come.br /br /strongWhat are your tips and suggestions to novice champagne drinkers? How best can one enjoy vintage champagne?andnbsp;/strongbr /One only has to be available to the momentandmdash;any momentandmdash;and allow oneself to seek the experience. We are pushing the boundaries of the experience to a more surprising, sensorial and emotional happening. You need to know how to fully enjoy itandmdash;without holding back! And remain in this intimacy to then be able to share it./p pandnbsp;/p pstrongWhich is your favourite champagne and why?/strongbr /The ones from] 2003 and 2005, no question; this goes well beyond the sheer pedigree of the vintages. It is actually something very personal, very intimate, the thrill and the pride of having lived up to the challenges they both represented. Declaring the vintage then was so much against the odds.br /br /strongHow do you celebrate?/strongbr /I love champagne, and Dom Pandeacute;rignon is exceptional! I am fortunate in my profession that I have the opportunity to frequently taste Dom Pandeacute;rignon throughout the year. Each vintage shares a similar style, yet each one is so distinct in its personality and expression. I like to drink champagne to celebrate many different moments in life./p pandnbsp;/p pstrongMore On andgt;andgt; a href="http://www.luxpresso.com/lifestyle/food-drink" target="_blank"Food andamp; Drink/a/strong/p pandnbsp;/p pandnbsp;/p

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