Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2006

This has a round, soft character that has some exotic, almost tropical-fruit aromas in the spectrum of green mango and pineapple. Peaches and citrus, too. The palate is super fleshy, velvety and soft. It really drives wide and even with some gentle, pithy grapefruit. Tends to bitterness on the finish. A blend of 42% chardonnay (lower than average for this wine), 38% pinot noir and 20% pinot meunier.

Lots of trendy flinty reductive character on the nose. Very youthful. Not quite as full on the palate as the nose suggests. The low dosage makes this a bit austere, perhaps. Even so, it's sophisticated and accomplished if not as appealing as I remember their 2002 being.

Moët's 2006 Grand Vintage Brut blends 42% Chardonnay with 39% Pinot Noir and 19% Meunier. This cuvée opens with ripe and pretty intense as well as elegant and remarkably pure Chardonnay aromas; additionally, there are floral and refreshing chalky lemon and herbal flavors, and subtle notes of brioche and bread. This Champagne is full-bodied, intense and powerful, yet really fine and refreshing on the palate; it has nutty flavors and a lot of tension and chalky flavors. This is a dry and firmly structured cuvée of great expression, finesse and elegance. Still very young. Date of disgorgement was May 2014. Dosage is five grams per liter.