Deep copper color; cherry, red fruits, strawberry on the nose; strawberry, redcurrant, raspberry, cherry, hint of peach on the palate.
Dry to demi-sec; voluptuous, fleshy, medium-full body, rich pinot noir-pinot meunier fruits with subtle assist of chardonnay (less than 10% of the blend). Tangy acidity balances vivid fruits and sweetness. Very easy drinker with its fruity sweetness and rich, hedonistic opulence. While it lacks complexity and layers of flavors, it should please a passel of palates, especially those who enjoy bubbly on the sweet side.
Moët & Chandon traces its roots to 1743 and founder Claude Moët. At that time, Champagne, the northernmost wine region in Europe, was something of a backwater, and the wine was considered inferior. Only later did it become the internationally recognized symbol of luxury, quality, and indulgence.
Significant credit for the transformation from backwater to prominence goes to Claude Moët’s grandson, Jean-Remy Moët, who marketed Champagne to the world at the end of the 1700s. As Moët’s website asserts “The important figures of the era, from the Marquise de Pompadour to Talleyrand to Napoleon quickly fell in love with the House’s effervescent wine. Moët & Chandon was soon the icon of success and elegance that it remains to this day.”
The Marquise de Pompadour, mistress of King Louis XV, was a highly influential tastemaker. Her famous quote: “Champagne is the only wine in the world that makes every woman beautiful” refers to Moët’s bubbly. Napoleon visited the House several times and awarded Jean-Remy the Légion d’honneur, one of France’s highest honors. Legends claim Napoleonic troops invented the tradition of using a saber to open bottles of Moët to celebrate victory.
As you might expect, Moët & Chandon takes great pains to preserve and tout its association with success and prestige. Nothing wrong with that when you can back it up with 270-plus years of quality. Today, Moët & Chandon is the largest estate in Champagne with 2,840 acres of parcels on rich chalk soil; half are grands crus and one-quarter are premiers crus. The parcels are scattered among the five main areas of Champagne: Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, Vallée de la Marne, Sézanne, and Aube.
Moët & Chandon Nectar Impérial Rosé NV with its great color and lively bubbles can be sweet aperitif to begin an elegant party, especially appreciated by those who enjoy sweeter wines. It also serves very well as romantic gift or celebratory pour for wedding, university graduation, birthday, retirement. Will be especially nice with fruity desserts, but sparkling rosé is one of the most versatile, food-friendly wines in the world. Because of the red wine emphasis, this is fuller in body and fruitier and sweeter on the palate. If you seek exotic food pairing suggestions, here you go—smoked gouda mushroom quesadillas; asparagus, crispy prosciutto and grilled brie cheese; porterhouse steak; salmon with sunflower-dill presto sauce; shrimp, avocado and roasted corn salad; Mexican chorizo and garlic shrimp burger; crispy fish tacos with jalapeño sauce. $46-66
