NV Moet et Chandon Imperial

Toasted hazelnut and smoke notes are rich and focused in this harmonious version, layered with flavors of pastry, passion fruit pâte de fruit and candied ginger. Fine and creamy, with a mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2020. Review Date: October 2015

(roughly 50% Pinot Noir, 35% Pinot Meunier and 15% Chardonnay 9 g/l dosage LAIBG): Light, bright yellow. Musky pear and toasty lees on the nose and in the mouth. Fleshy and open-knit, with a hint of bitter lemon pith adding back-end cut. Finishes on a gently smoky note, with very good cling and focus and a hint of bitter quinine. This must be the best example of this bottling that I've had in years, if not decades. In the past the Imperial Brut received a dosage of 12 g/l, but no more in fact, there's talk that in the near future it may be dropped down as far as 7 g/l. Review Date: January 2015