The short answer
Dom Perignon produces only vintage champagne, meaning every bottle contains grapes harvested exclusively within a single declared year. Moet & Chandon releases a Dom Perignon vintage only when harvest quality satisfies strict house standards, rejecting years where grapes fall short. Since the inaugural 1921 harvest, released in 1936, the maison has declared 43 white vintages. Modern declarations show high critic consensus, with top releases including 2008 and 2018 scoring 98 points among professional critics, while historical benchmarks such as 1961 reached 97.5 and 1952 reached 97. Secondary market pricing reflects vintage rarity and maturation stage. Recent releases such as 2013 and 2015 trade around retail GBP 124 and GBP 125, whereas older library vintages such as 1990 trade at GBP 406 and 1969 reaches GBP 939. Collectors track declared vintages to balance immediate drinking windows with long cellar potential across multiple decades.
The criteria behind a declared harvest
Every single bottle of Dom Perignon vintage champagne represents a single year of growth, vinification, and cellar maturation. Unlike non-vintage houses that blend reserve wines across multiple years to maintain a uniform profile, the house declares a release only when growing conditions yield fruit of exceptional distinction. Moet & Chandon maintains that if a growing season fails to meet exacting standards, no wine bearing the name is produced for that year.
According to Moet & Chandon cellar records, the house has declared 43 white vintages between 1921 and 2018. The decision to declare requires balancing pinot noir and chardonnay harvest metrics, acid balance, and long-term aging potential. When conditions do not align, entire crops are diverted to other cuvees or non-vintage bottlings.
Understanding each Dom Perignon vintage by decade
The twenty-first century has witnessed an unprecedented succession of declarations. The 2018 release achieved a rating of 98 from critics, with a projected drinking window of 2026-2048. In contrast, 2017 trades at retail GBP 127 with a 94.3 critic score. The 2015 vintage stands at retail GBP 125 with a critic rating of 95.3 and a drinking window of 2024-2054. Prior releases show steady pricing: 2013 trades at retail GBP 124 with critics scoring it 95.2 and drink dates of 2022-2043, while 2012 commands retail GBP 164, a 97 critic score, and a broad drinking span of 2021-2052.
Earlier bottlings from the 2000s highlight vintage divergence. According to critic consensus, 2008 remains a benchmark at 98 points and retail GBP 164, carrying a window of 2018-2048. The 2010 release scored 94.1 at retail GBP 132, with a window of 2012-2035. The 2009 vintage trades at retail GBP 138 with critics rating it 94.7 for drinking between 2017 and 2049. The 2006 vintage sits at retail GBP 141 with a 95.7 rating and longevity of 2016-2056, while 2005 trades at retail GBP 142 with critics recording 94.2 and drink dates of 2020-2035. The 2004 release scored 96.1 at retail GBP 138 for 2018-2042 consumption, 2003 sits at retail GBP 167 with a 94 score for 2018-2040, 2002 commands retail GBP 165 with 95.4 for 2012-2042, and 2000 trades at retail GBP 204 with 94 points for 2008-2034.
Late twentieth century releases and performance
The 1990s produced several celebrated releases that now trade at substantial premiums. The 1996 harvest represents the high point of the decade, trading at retail GBP 314 with a 96.7 critic rating and an active drinking window of 2005-2030. The 1990 vintage commands retail GBP 406, carrying a 95.3 critic score with prime consumption charted between 1997 and 2024. Other releases from the decade include 1999 at retail GBP 210 with critics awarding 92.9 for 2007-2024 drinking, 1998 at retail GBP 220 with 92.5 for 2013-2040, 1995 at retail GBP 182 with 93 for 2005-2012, 1993 with a 91.3 critic score, and 1992 trading at retail GBP 316 with 91 points.
According to wine critics, the 1980s yielded sustained balance across multiple releases. The 1985 vintage achieved 96.3 points with a long drinking span of 2024-2040. The 1988 vintage scored 93.5 among professional reviewers, while 1983 reached 95 points and 1982 scored 95.5. These older vintages confirm the structural longevity that the maison seeks when committing a harvest to extended maturation.
Historic releases from 1952 to 1978
The 1970s demonstrated clear stylistic variations across declared years. The 1975 vintage scored 97 points with critics charting a drinking window of 2017-2038. The 1971 release reached 96.5 points with a window of 2017-2030. The warm 1976 vintage scored 94 points for drinking between 2017 and 2027, whereas 1973 scored 92.5 for 2017-2020 consumption, and 1978 registered 90 points.
Mid-century bottlings remain rare collector acquisitions. The 1969 vintage commands retail GBP 939 with a 96 critic rating and a drinking window of 2009-2022. The 1966 and 1964 vintages scored 96 and 96.5 respectively, both carrying 2017-2020 windows. The 1962 harvest achieved 94 points, while 1961 reached 97.5. The 1959 vintage trades at retail GBP 804 in market records. The 1955 vintage scored 95 points, and 1952 achieved 97 points, reflecting the quality achieved during the initial post-war decades.
Pricing patterns across older and younger releases
Market pricing records document a direct correlation between bottle age, scarcity, and retail value. Young declared vintages such as 2013 at GBP 124, 2015 at GBP 125, and 2017 at GBP 127 offer low entry thresholds for fine wine cellaring. As supply declines through global consumption, prices shift upward into mature brackets: 2000 at GBP 204, 1998 at GBP 220, and 1996 at GBP 314.
Historic bottles dating back beyond five decades command the highest figures due to severe bottle attrition. A bottle of 1969 at GBP 939 or 1959 at GBP 804 reflects museum-grade rarity. For buyers seeking optimal value against quality, the 2008 and 2012 vintages at GBP 164 each combine 98 and 97 critic scores with drinking windows that extend well into the late 2040s and 2050s.
Common questions
How many Dom Perignon vintages have been released?
According to Moet & Chandon records, the house has declared 43 white vintages from the inaugural 1921 harvest through the 2018 vintage.
What is the highest-rated recent Dom Perignon vintage?
Critics award 98 points to both the 2008 and 2018 vintages, marking them as the top-scoring modern releases.
Does Dom Perignon produce a non-vintage champagne?
No. The house exclusively produces vintage champagne, meaning all fruit in a single bottle comes from one declared harvest year.
What is the drinking window for the 2015 vintage?
Critics assess the drinking window for the 2015 vintage as 2024-2054, making it suitable for long cellar storage.
Sources
- Dom Perignon Official Vintages Heritage, checked 2026-08-20
- Decanter Dom Perignon 2008 vintage review, checked 2026-08-20
- Wine Spectator Vintage Archive, checked 2026-08-20
Last updated 2026-08-20. Drafted with gemini-3.7-flash against this site’s own price and critic data, then checked against the sources above. We do not put a human byline on copy a human did not write.