When Claude Moët first broke ground on his eponymous champagne maison in 1743, he scarcely could have predicted what was to follow. A staunch advocate for the prestige of sparkling wine, the French vintner simply wanted to celebrate the beauty of effervescence in spirit, but his enthusiasm proved infectious. Moët’s vision helped to lay the foundations for a burgeoning industry that, more than 280 years later, continues to thrive. Nowhere is that more visible than in the maison’s latest expression, Collection Impériale Création No. 1.
Unveiled to commemorate the maison’s 280th anniversary, the new release is the first cuvée in a line of champagnes under Moët & Chandon’s new Collection Impériale nameplate. The champagne is made from an assemblage of seven remarkable vintages, with a 2013 vintage base. Each release has been aged through different maturation processes in oak casks and on the lees, in bottles. A challenging, if not entirely antiquated production process, Création No. 1 is the brainchild of Moët & Chandon cellar master Benoît Gouez, who described the release as “the ultimate composition to date of Moët & Chandon’s art of Haute Oenologie”.
“Anchored in our 280 years of savoir-vin, it is a blend of seven remarkable vintages, uniquely produced, selected, aged through different maturation processes and harmoniously assembled: a new expression made possible by our craftsmanship whose foundation lay on Moët Imperial,” Gouez said.
A unique term coined by Moët & Chandon, Haute Oenologie refers to the maison’s process of precise vinification science. As the label explained, the cellar masters’ ability to select the best vintages, age them through different processes and strategically assemble them is what gives the champagne true harmony. For Collection Impériale Création No. 1, Moët & Chandon has pulled from a wide array of sources, dipping into the label’s historic cellars for a little something special.
According to Moët & Chandon, the release’s intricate assemblage starts with the “fresh 2013 Grand Vintage, aged in stainless steel tanks, complemented by the refined 2012, powerful 2010, tense 2008, full-bodied 2006, lively 2000, aged in oak casks, and finished with the elegant 2004”, which was bottle aged on lees after its second fermentation. The result is a captivating release with a reserved aromatic profile that gives way to an intriguing fruit-forward sweetness, which Gouez noted was a testament to the incredible base vintages.
According to the fabled champagne house, Collection Impériale Création No. 1 is a sensory journey for the palate. Described as a “serene experience akin to a beautiful home opening its doors”, the new cuvée tantalises the senses with an aromatic sweetness that embraces its creamy and delicate effervescence. There is freshness and bitters on the palate, while the finish exudes lingering notes of smoke and liquorice.
“Our founder Claude Moët conceived the maison, rooted in champagne-making excellence, for his time as well as for the generations to come,” Gouez said. “Today, our reserve wine library, one of the largest in the region, has allowed me to craft this creation, which encapsulates the depth of time.”
That very motif is something that Moët & Chandon was happy to draw on for the anniversary celebrations. The release of the Collection Impériale Création No. 1 comes hot on the heels of the maison’s recent collaboration with American creative Daniel Armsham. The visionary artist embraced the concept of time to craft a new work and a limited-edition bottle case.
After visiting Moët & Chandon’s estate in Epernay, Arsham reportedly found inspiration in a stained glass window by Félix Gaudin that has adorned the entrance to the cellars since the late 1890s. In response, he created a three-metre-long sculptural work that will be permanently installed in the Galerie Impériale, not far from that very stained glass window. In addition to that, 85 limited-edition bottles, clad entirely in white, have been developed, each reprising the design of the sculpture and adorned with references to the Château de Saran.
“We created Collection Impériale Création No. 1, released for our 280th anniversary, as a champagne crafted for eternity,” Benoît Gouez said. “It’s precisely our relationship with time – the time needed to grow, select and mature champagne – that makes Daniel Arsham such an inspired choice for this collaboration. Daniel’s unique take on Moët & Chandon’s heritage beautifully captures the essence of our history and our craft.”
Moët & Chandon’s Collection Impériale Création No. 1 is available now, priced from AUD$380. The champagne house’s collaboration with Daniel Armsham is limited to just 85 bottles worldwide, with no official pricing confirmed by Moët & Chandon.
