To mark Moët & Chandon’s 280th anniversary, the house has released Collection Impériale Création No. 1. (In the countdown to its 300th anniversary, Moët is releasing a new creation every two years.) This is Moët’s first release from the Collection Impériale; the new cuvée is a blend of three grape varieties from seven remarkable vintages — the 2013 Grand Vintage (aged in stainless steel tanks), along with the 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2000, all aged in oak casks, and finished with the 2004, bottle aged on lees in 2015 after its second fermentation.
The golden-hued champagne has mineral dry notes such as licorice root and mocha, with secondary aromas of fresh hazelnut, vanilla and a touch of dried fig and Mirabelle plum.
To celebrate the release, the house has partnered with American contemporary artist Daniel Arsham. His curious work explores themes of architecture and the passage of time, both of which are evident in the piece he created for Moët — an avant-garde relief that was unveiled at the champagne house in Epernay.
The striking piece was inspired by a stained glass panel by Félix Gaudin that has been within the house’s cellars since 1890. Just shy of 10-ft long, the artwork, which was fashioned from a white cast resin that recalls the chalky soils of the Champagne region, will be a permanent fixture in the cellars — mounted not far from the original stained-glass window.
Alongside the artwork, Arsham also created a limited-edition collectible chest and a sculptural bottle. Limited to just 85 pieces, the 3D bottles emulate the artwork, with references to the Château de Saran, which Moët & Chandon has owned since 1801.
The collection will cost $28,000
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This article appears in the 27 Aug 2024 issue of the New Statesman, Fall 2024
