For 2000, Moet & Chandon Blends Bubblies From Every Decade

Julia Mann
Posted: May 28, 1999

Moet & Chandon, one of the most renowned French Champagne houses, has launched a unique -- if not a bit bizarre -- Champagne in celebration of the year 2000. Esprit du Siecle, which translates as "Spirit of the Century," is a blend of what the house describes as its most characteristic vintages of the 20th century, dating back to 1900 and following through with 1914, 1921, 1934, 1943, 1952, 1962, 1976, 1983, 1985 and 1995.

"The cellar masters and enologists chose those vintages which were the most striking, which brought the most to the blend. They were particularly interested in capturing the spirit of the century through the intrinsic qualities of the vintages and their complementarity," said Jean-Baptiste Maugars, director of international marketing at Moet & Chandon.

Esprit du Siecle also marks the introduction of a new phase in the production of a Champagne. Cellar master Dominique Foulon and his group of enologists introduced a new third fermentation stage in bottle as well as additional aging with the lees, or sediments. The wine has been maturing for three years in magnums.

Of the 323 magnums produced, 30 will be offered for sale in September directly from the Champagne house in Epernay at about $21,000 a magnum. Another hundred will be offered to a number of celebrities throughout the world and a further hundred will be available to Moet & Chandon's 1,500 employees throughout its international branches. Moet & Chandon will also keep a few bottles in its cellars to age. "We didn't create this Champagne with a commercial aim in mind. It is more the realization of a dream than anything else," said Maugars.

To learn more about Moet & Chandon and Champagne in general:

December 31, 1998
For Champagne, the Time is Now

May 31, 1998
Champagne Uncorked