Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Extra Brut 2012 (750ML)

94 WE / 93 WS / 92 WA / 91+ VM / 16.5+ JR

Collected, balanced and poised, this Champagne combines richness with freshness, and fruit with minerality. It is still a young wine ,with acidity shining through the texture. It will age impressively, ready to drink from 2022. - RV, Wine Enthusiast

Rich, with toasty notes of grilled nut and blackberry tart, this creamy Champagne is finely knit and vibrant, enlivened by a firm frame of citrusy acidity and a minerally underpinning. Disgorged February 2018. Drink now through 2027. - Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator

Disgorged in February 2018 with five grams per liter dosage, Moët's 2012 Extra Brut Grand Vintage is showing well, unfurling in the glass with an expressive bouquet of ripe yellow orchard fruit, peaches, toasted nuts, warm bread and honeycomb. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with a tangy but ripe core of fruit, nicely integrated acids and a pinpoint mousse, concluding with an attractively fruit-driven finish. The 2012 reflects both the concentration of the vintage and Moët's push for riper fruit, and it is already quite accessible. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

The 2012 Grand Vintage is a very pretty, high-toned Champagne. Surprisingly nervous for this radiant vintage, the 2012 is going to need a bit of time to be at its best. Some of that may be attributable to early release of the 2012, which was bottled after only five years on its lees rather than the more customary seven or so because the house did not bottle either a 2010 or 2011 Grand Vintage, and the necessities of the market are what they are. Lemon confit, white flowers, and mint gradually open up in the glass. This is an especially taut style for the Grand Vintage, which is usually creamier and more open-knit in the early going. The blend is 41% Chardonnay, 36% Meunier and 33% Pinot Noir. Dosage is 5 grams per liter. Disgorged: February, 2018. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

More Meunier than usual, with 26%, also 41% Chardonnay and 33% Pinot Noir. Disgorged February 2018. They also specify this date and the dosage on the back label nowadays. For a long time they didn’t claim the Extra Brut category but since the 2009 vintage they have printed Extra Brut on the front label. Really quite a rich nose with very light smokiness. Then very bright fruit with tangerine notes on the nose and then strong acidity. Very punchy and nice dry finish, 5 g/l. - Jancis Robinson