100 Points Richard Juhlin / 98 Points Wine Spectator — The Greatest Vintage Champagne Rosé Ever Made

My Wine Man on Dom Pérignon

Dom Pérignon is the prestige cuvée of Moët & Chandon and one of the most celebrated and recognisable wine names on earth — a Champagne house whose history stretches back to the 17th century and the legendary Benedictine monk after whom it is named. Only produced in exceptional vintages, Dom Pérignon is the benchmark against which all prestige cuvées are measured. The Rosé is the rarest and most coveted expression in the Dom Pérignon portfolio — produced in tiny quantities, released only when the chef de cave is satisfied that the wine has reached its first plénitude, and built to evolve and reward patience over decades. The 1996 vintage is, by near-universal consensus among critics and collectors, the greatest vintage Champagne Rosé ever produced. Thirty years in the making, it is now drinking at the absolute pinnacle of its powers.

Tasting Notes

The 1996 growing season in Champagne was extraordinary — a long, warm summer followed by a cool, dry autumn produced grapes of exceptional concentration, acidity, and structure. Richard Geoffroy, Dom Pérignon's chef de cave at the time, described it as a vintage of "electric tension." In the glass, the 1996 Rosé is tantalisingly multifaceted — nuanced undercurrents of saffron, sweet almond, and candied grapefruit zest reveal themselves slowly, a profile that could only emerge from three decades of slow, unhurried evolution in the bottle. The mousse is fine and persistent, the colour a luminous, deep salmon-pink. The finish is lengthy, refreshing, and compellingly refined. 100 Points — Richard Juhlin. 98 Points — Wine Spectator.

Style & Drinking Window

Vintage Rosé Champagne of extraordinary depth, complexity, and refinement. The 1996 is drinking at its absolute peak right now — one of the rare wines where the wait has been entirely worth it. Serve in a large Burgundy glass, well-chilled at 10–12°C. Reserve this bottle for the most extraordinary of occasions.

Food Pairing

The 1996 Dom Pérignon Rosé's extraordinary complexity and refinement open it up to the finest food pairings imaginable. Freshly shucked oysters, grilled salmon with a champagne beurre blanc, or the finest seafood — lobster, langoustine, or scallops — are natural companions for a Champagne of this stature. For a more indulgent pairing, aged hard cheese — a perfectly ripe Brie de Meaux or aged Comté — or the finest dark chocolate will complement the wine's saffron, almond, and citrus complexity beautifully. This is a wine for the most celebratory of tables.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At HK$4,999, the 1996 Dom Pérignon Rosé is not simply a wine — it is a historical artefact. The most celebrated Champagne vintage of the 20th century, the greatest vintage Rosé ever produced, 100 points from the world's leading Champagne critic, and 30 years of bottle development — all in a single bottle. Comparable bottles at auction regularly command significantly higher prices. For collectors, enthusiasts, and anyone seeking the ultimate Champagne experience, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will not come again.

Looking for a Different Style?

If you'd like to explore other exceptional Champagnes from our range, consider these alternatives:

• Ruinart Brut Rosé Champagne — The world's oldest Champagne house — a beautifully elegant and refined Rosé from one of Champagne's most storied names. HK$629.
• Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne — A benchmark Chardonnay-driven Champagne of exceptional purity and elegance. HK$629.
• Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve Champagne — One of Champagne's most celebrated family-owned houses — precise, elegant, and consistently outstanding. HK$349.

Life's too short for bad wine.