3 | Wine | France, 2002

"The 2002 Brut La Grande Annee is marvelous. The 2002 is an understated Grande Annee that caresses the palate with layers of effortless, weightless fruit. The mousse is exceptionally fine, which adds to the impression of total elegance. This is a relatively bright, floral Grande Annee with plenty of aromatic lift, inner perfume and no sense of heaviness at all. A rich, creamy finish adds the final note of complexity and pedigree."

"A dry, rich rosé, with a creamy bead and a smoky undercurrent to the flavors of dried cherry, black licorice, blood orange, savory herbs and biscuit. There's a firm backbone of racy acidity, but this is well-meshed and very refreshing."

"Unfortunately there is only one new release from Dom Perignon on the market, but what a wine it is! The 2002 Brut Rose explodes from the glass with endless layers of huge, voluptuous fruit, A big, full-bodied wine, the 2002 is probably the most overly vinous, intense Rose ever made by long-time Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy. Layers of cool, insistent minerality balance the fruit beautifully on the crystalline, vivid finish. The 2002 will be nearly impossible to resist young, but take my word for it; the wine is extremely closed right now."

"The 2002 Dom Perignon is at first intensely floral, with perfumed jasmine that dominates the bouquet. With time in the glass the wine gains richness as the flavors turn decidedly riper and almost tropical. Apricots, passion fruit and peaches emerge from this flashy, opulent Dom Perignon. The wine’s volume makes it approachable today, but readers in search of more complexity will want to cellar this for at least a few years to allow for some of the baby fat to drop off. Geoffroy describes the vintage as very ripe and adds that some of the Chardonnay showed the ill-effects of the hot growing season in the somewhat burned, dehydrated fruit that came in that year."

"An amazing effort for the vintage, with black cherry compote and hoisin sauce notes layered with mineral, black tea, vanilla bean and dark cocoa. Long, supersilky finish is carried by fine-grained tannins."

"Taittinger’s 2002 Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne is off the charts. I have tasted the 2002 now many times, and it has never been less than thrilling. A vivid kaleidoscope of pure Chardonnay aromas and flavors opens up in the glass. The 2002 is at once incredibly rich yet also totally weightless and impeccable in its balance. All the classic Comtes notes are there, but with a level of detail and nuance I don’t think I have ever seen before. The 2002 is breathtakingly beautiful today, but also appears to have the stuffing to age for decades. Personally, I would be looking to buy the 2002 in magnums if at all possible. Sadly, there is little wine to go around as 2002 was a very short crop. Readers who can track down the 2002 are in store for something truly great."

"Like a well-tuned symphony this delicious wine offers beautiful harmony between the finely detailed texture, the lacy, mouthwatering acidity and the range of flavors, from fresh, floral tones of apricot, apple blossom and pink grapefruit zest to richer notes of toasted nut, spiced plum, freshly ground coffee, anise, cumin and cardamom."

"Bright, expressive aromas of redcurrant, wild strawberry, white flowers and Asian spices, with a chalky undertone. Deeper cherry, licorice and subtle smoky qualities join the nervy red fruits on the velvety palate. Puts on weight with air, finishing with solid grip and lingering smoke and floral notes. This could still use some bottle age but there's enough complexity for guilt-free drinking now."

"A golden yellow straw-like color, bright and full of intensity with attractive lingering bubbles. A finne nose with enticing notes of fresh honey, candied grapefruit and lime. On the palate a dominating fruitiness with light biscuit character. A full and long texture displaying freshness and vinosity. The wine is balanced with remarkable harmony. An amazingly pure champagne."