Dry
⏳ Drinking Window
2018 - 2024
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
foie gras, spicy Asian cuisine, fruit tarts
✨ Technical Specifications
Moët & Chandon's 'Dry Imperial' (often labeled as Dry Impérial) is a historic cuvée that harkens back to an era when the global palate favored a slightly sweeter, rounder style of Champagne. In the lexicon of Champagne, 'Dry' (or Sec) denotes a wine with a higher dosage than Brut, yielding a harmonious balance of vibrant acidity and soft, luscious sweetness. Historically, this bottling was a favorite among late 19th and early 20th-century European high society, frequently served at grand banquets and royal celebrations. Crafted using the traditional method, it draws from the house's extensive access to premier and grand cru vineyards across the Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, and Côte des Blancs. The chalky soils of these regions impart a signature mineral backbone that beautifully offsets the wine's richer, off-dry profile.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1743 by Claude Moët, Moët & Chandon stands as Champagne's quintessential global ambassador. Anchored along the prestigious Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, the maison commands approximately 1,190 hectares of prime estate vineyards spanning the Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne, supplemented by an extensive network of grower partnerships. Viticulture emphasizes sustainability through certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) and Viticulture Durable en Champagne (VDC) protocols, eliminating chemical herbicides. Underground, 28 kilometers of historic chalk crayères provide the microclimatic stability required for extended lees maturation. Guided by longtime Chef de Cave Benoît Gouez, the winemaking philosophy prioritizes bright fruit purity, seductive palates, and elegant maturity through temperature-controlled stainless steel vinification and malolactic fermentation. The portfolio spans the ubiquitous benchmark Moët Impérial to the terroir-driven Grand Vintage expressions and multi-vintage prestige assemblages like Collection Impériale, epitomizing grand-scale precision and classical Champagne typicity.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
12%