Moet & Chandon Imperial NV (12L)

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.

This is a complex, composed and fresh style with an array of citrus and stone fruit and some tropical notes, as well as bready nuances. The palate has fleshy, supple and fine texture with impressively fresh, peachy flavors. Drink now.

A rich note of grilled nut meets flavors of Asian pear, preserved lemon and mineral on the palate of this creamy Champagne, driven by a firm streak of refreshing acidity.

Toasty biscuit, plush apricot and a hint of zesty lemon peel, the palate is braced with bright lime and soft spice.