Moët & Chandon : Grand Vintage 2009

Characteristics and tasting notes for Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2009

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays a pale to light golden hue with subtle greenish highlights. A fine, persistent bead of bubbles reflects the extended ageing on lees.

Nose
The nose reveals aromatic richness, with ripe orchard fruit, particularly apple and pear, alongside citrus notes of lemon and lime. A subtle smoky touch emerges as the wine opens. The bouquet gradually evolves towards aromas of sweet biscuit, vanilla and toasted brioche, enhanced by hints of roasted almonds and sesame.

Palate
On the palate, this Champagne charms with its generosity and silky texture. The attack shows fine breadth, followed by a rich mid-palate with flavours of ripe apples, juicy pears, apricots and peaches, underpinned by the chalky minerality typical of the Champagne terroir. The moderate dosage of 5 grams per litre gives the wine a gastronomic character, highlighting the balance between ripe fruit and tangy freshness. The finish stands out for its vivacity and remarkable length, with lingering notes of citrus and minerality, lifted by a light bitterness and a delicate tannic structure from the Pinot Noir.

Food and wine pairing

Grand Vintage 2009 pairs harmoniously with seafood and shellfish, particularly oysters, scallops and lightly cooked lobster dishes. It also makes an elegant partner for sushi, sashimi and ceviche. This Champagne is a perfect match for poultry in cream sauce, such as poularde à la crème, and beautifully complements aged cheeses such as Comté or Gruyère. For dessert, choose fruit tarts or delicate almond-based pastries.

Serving and cellaring

Grand Vintage 2009 is best served between 8 and 10°C. This Champagne has excellent ageing potential and can be cellared for several years, while already offering outstanding drinking pleasure today.

A generous and balanced vintage Champagne

The estate

Founded in 1743 by Claude Moët in Épernay, Moët & Chandon has been owned by the LVMH group since 1987. It is headed by Sibylle Scherer as President, with Benoît Gouez as Cellar Master since 2005. With 1,190 to 1,300 hectares of vines, 50% of which are classified grand cru and 25% premier cru, Moët & Chandon owns the largest vineyard holding in Champagne. The House is also renowned for its 28 kilometres of underground cellars carved into the chalk, the most extensive in the region.

The vineyard

Grand Vintage 2009 is sourced from the five main areas of Champagne: the Montagne de Reims, the Côte des Blancs, the Vallée de la Marne, Sézanne and the Aube. The vineyards benefit from the limestone and chalk soils typical of the region, which absorb heat during the day and release it at night, promoting a fine balance between acidity and sugar in the grapes. The Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier in this cuvée come from the House's own vineyards, notably in the prestigious villages of Aÿ and Hautvillers, renowned for the finesse of their tannins.

The vintage

The 2009 growing season began with an exceptionally cold winter, followed by a mild spring that encouraged vine growth. Conditions were variable in early summer, but August and September brought generous sunshine and sustained warmth, ensuring excellent grape health and rapid ripening. Harvest began on 8 September 2009, yielding grapes with high sugar levels and supple acidity. The must reached a potential alcohol of 10.3%, with acidity of 7.5 grams per litre. This combination of ripeness and gentle acidity defines this warm vintage, which favoured the production of rich, generous wines.

Winemaking and ageing

Grand Vintage 2009 was aged for seven years on lees before disgorgement in January 2017. This extended maturation develops the aromatic complexity and silky texture characteristic of great vintage Champagnes. The final dosage of 5 grams per litre gives this cuvée its Extra Brut profile, favouring purity of expression and food pairing. The House also uses proprietary yeasts developed in the 1960s, which contribute to the toasty, mineral notes that are distinctive of the Moët & Chandon style.

Grape varieties

Pinot Noir (50%)
Chardonnay (36%)
Pinot Meunier (14%)