The Ultimate Bottle

A new blend by Moët & Chandon is the truest expression of the house’s range

- Jake Emen

Hidden among the estimated 100 million bottles stashed away in Moët & Chandon’s sprawling subterranean wine cellars is a Champagne like no other, the hard-earned result of a project two decades in the making. It’s what chef de cave Benoît Gouez refers to as his “state of the art” blend—MCIII.

He calls the release the ultimate expression of Moët’s range, incorporating a complicated mix of components representing three forms of Champagne maturation: chardonnay and pinot noir from 2003, aged in stainless steel; Moët’s showcase 1998, 2000, and 2002 Grand Vintages, partially matured in large oak casks; and last but perhaps most exciting, Moët’s 1993, 1998, and 1999 Grand Vintages, matured in bottle and then disgorged before incorporation.

“It’s not just a Champagne; it’s a wine from Champagne,” Gouez says, referring to its possession of the complexity and character you’d seek out in the finest offerings from any premier region. It unfolds sip by sip, layer by layer, with Moët’s signature bright, fruity notes complemented by a luscious and unparalleled well-roundedness.

MCIII first appeared several years ago, but is now available for the first time in magnums. Gouez always defers to the magnum if given the chance, so much so that he refers to regular-size bottles merely as half magnums. And the large format isn’t the maison’s only new offering this year, either. The 2009 Grand Vintage, the third vintage Gouez has created and seen all the way through to release since assuming his current role in 2005, is now on store shelves as well.