READ · COMPARE · EXPLAIN
Dom Pérignon: Releasing the Same Vintage at Different Times
Originating as Moët & Chandon’s prestige cuvée and now a brand under Moët Hennessy, this Champagne emphasizes a single harvest, and produces vintage, rosé, and the long-aged Plénitude 2.
When comparing vintage and P2, organize the conditions that are aligned and those that are recorded as differences.
Questions for this course
Is Plénitude 2 a wine made by blending two vintages?
Before you start reading, briefly jot down your thoughts. You will rephrase them at the end.
To applied practice using the material ↓
To explanation task notes ↓Dom Pérignon / Study by producer
France / Champagne / Épernay, Hautvillers
Other names & notations: Dom Pérignon / ドン・ペリニヨン / Dom Perignon
Update date: 2026-09-24
Even in a single vintage, assemblage is done.
Dom Pérignon uses a single harvest year and sometimes chooses not to release a vintage. At the same time, it is a blend of multiple base wines. The “single vintage” condition does not mean there is no blending.
Waiting period with lees
The official information states vintage Champagne spends over 8 years, rosé over 12 years, and Plénitude 2 over 15 years aging. These times describe the brand’s style, not the legal minimum periods for all Champagne.
2 does not indicate the number of harvest years
Plénitude 2 is a term indicating a stage after longer aging on the lees. It does not mean a blend of two vintages. When comparing to the standard release from the same vintage, be sure to check shipment date and disgorgement information.
What to align and what to compare.
Year of the ingredient.
- Conditions to standardize
- Dom Pérignon
- Conditions for comparison.
- Single vintage / combining base wines.
- Additional points to confirm
- Single vintage and non-blend are not the same.
Explanation of maturation
- Conditions to standardize
- Dom Pérignon
- Conditions for comparison.
- Vintage: 8 years or more; P2: 15 years or more
- Additional points to confirm
- Producer’s policy
Plénitude 2
- Conditions to standardize
- Dom Pérignon
- Conditions for comparison.
- Stages of lengthy lees maturation
- Additional points to confirm
- It does not mean "two years"
Order of reading and key points to consider in each article
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READ · HYPOTHESIZE · RECONSIDER
Dom Pérignon Reading Exercise: Releasing the Same Vintage at Different Times
Compare the stated conditions in the documentation. Numbers specifying vintages should be treated as information for that specific year.
This summarizes materials published by producers, regional groups, and importers. Each source includes the publisher and the date the material was checked.
| Comparison items | What can be determined from the materials | Ability to distinguish by reading |
|---|---|---|
| Year of the ingredient. | Single vintage / combining base wines. | Single vintage and non-blend are not the same. |
| Explanation of maturation | Vintage: 8 years or more; P2: 15 years or more | Producer’s policy |
| Plénitude 2 | Stages of lengthy lees maturation | It does not mean "two years" |
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Read the explanation for each question
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What is the policy on single vintage?
Vintage year and number of base wines are different conditions.
What does '15 years or more' mean?
Observe the target scope for brands and cuvées.
What does the second '2' in P2 stand for?
This is not a display of a blend of vintages. The principle of using grapes from a single year does not change in P2. This term distinguishes the stage where the wine spends longer on the lees than a standard vintage. Even when comparing wines from the same harvest year, there are differences in the timing of maturation and release.
Basis and sources for the exercise
Practice exercises in comparison
Please explain differences in raw materials and winemaking by reading the table and sources.
Read examples of organizing comparisons
| Conditions for Comparison | Comparison items | What can be determined from the materials | Ability to distinguish by reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of the ingredient. | Single vintage / combining base wines. | Single vintage and non-blend are not the same. | |
| Explanation of maturation | Vintage: 8 years or more; P2: 15 years or more | Producer’s policy | |
| Plénitude 2 | Stages of lengthy lees maturation | It does not mean "two years" |
Sources of materials used for comparison are listed in the text and exercises.
Explain in your own words
Please write the conditions that are aligned and those recorded as differences when comparing vintage and P2.
Check after writing
- Did you specify the label, vintage, and scope of materials to be compared?
- Did you distinguish and explain the three items in the table?
- Did you separate verified facts from points to check further with additional references or tasting?
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