Moët & Chandon : Grand Vintage Collection 1996

Tasting notes and advice for the Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Collection 1996

Tasting

Nose
The nose combines notes of pear, citrus fruit, mint, acacia blossom, toasted almond and aromatic herbs such as rosemary and sage.

Palate
The palate is straight and firm, driven by a constant freshness. The fruit becomes more precisely defined as the tasting unfolds, supported by an unbroken tension from start to finish.

A vintage champagne combining delicacy and great elegance

The estate

Founded in 1743 by Claude Moët, a visionary wine merchant, the House of Champagne Moët & Chandon quickly established itself as a benchmark among European courts. A few decades later, his grandson, Jean‑Rémy Moët, expanded the prestige of the house internationally.

Jean‑Rémy Moët is credited with creating the iconic Moët Impérial cuvée, dedicated to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, a regular visitor to the estate. Tradition also attributes to him, along with his troops, the gesture of sabering Moët & Chandon bottles to celebrate a victory.

Part of the LVMH group since 1987, the house crafts, from a strict selection of Champagne terroirs, characterful cuvées, recognized beyond borders for their quality and appeal.

The wine

Produced only in the greatest years in Champagne, Grand Vintage embodies the Moët & Chandon Cellar Master’s free and personal interpretation of an exceptional vintage.

The vintage

1996 was a year shaped by contrasting conditions, notably during a summer alternating rain with drier periods. In the final weeks before harvest, warm temperatures combined with north‑easterly winds promoted excellent ripening of the berries. Harvest took place between September 16 and October 1st

Winemaking and aging

This vintage champagne benefited from extended maturation in the cellars.

Blend

The House’s 64th vintage is a blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier.