1969 Moët & Chandon, Vintage Brut

🍇 Approx. 45% Pinot Noir – 35% Chardonnay – 20% Meunier (typical house vintage blend of the era)
📅 Vintage: 1969
📍 France – Champagne – Épernay
⭐ Tom Stevenson: Highly praised (archival) | Michael Broadbent: ★★★★
📦 2 x 37.5 cl (Half Bottles)
⏳ Maturity: Fully mature – drink now; suitable for tasting, not cellaring

📅 The Vintage – 1969: Quiet Grace

1969 in Champagne was temperate and classically structured. Though not widely declared, it proved successful for houses with strong vineyard control and patience in vinification. The wines were fresher and more mineral-driven than the bold '66s or '70s, with a purity and linear elegance that appealed to traditionalists.

Moët & Chandon’s vintage expression of this year emphasized restraint, chalky precision, and slow evolution, making it one of the sleepers of the late 1960s.

👃 Tasting Notes

👁 Appearance:

Brilliant old gold with amber glints. Fine mousse still present but delicate—more a gentle bead than persistent effervescence.

👃 Nose:

A complex and tertiary bouquet of toasted brioche, dried citrus peel, almond skin, beeswax, and chamomile. Notes of apple compote, crème caramel, and aged nougat interlace with chalky minerality and gentle oxidative richness.

👄 Palate:

Vinous and dry, with mousse nearly faded—but texture still vibrant thanks to acidity and mineral tension. Flavors of lemon oil, hazelnut, saline chalk, and tarte Tatin dominate. Not about sparkle, but about structure, tone, and depth. The finish is clean, nutty, and long—leaving a faint echo of honeyed toast and salt.

🍽️ Pairing:

Best with aged cheeses (Comté, Beaufort), duck rillettes, or cured ham, or as an elegant prelude to a white truffle risotto. Also ideal for contemplative tasting flights or Champagne retrospectives.

🏰 The Estate – Moët & Chandon

Founded in 1743, Moët & Chandon is the largest and most internationally recognized Champagne house, yet one whose vintage cuvées still reflect a deep commitment to terroir-driven balance and age-worthy finesse.

Their vintage Champagnes—made only in worthy years—are always a blend of Grand and Premier Cru sites, aged longer on lees, and made in a style that prioritizes refinement over flamboyance.

In 1969, Moët was crafting wines rooted in tradition, with extended bottle aging and minimal intervention—making this vintage particularly attractive to lovers of classic, old-school Champagne.

🏆 Awards & Critics

• Tom Stevenson (archival):
  “A vintage of delicate poise. Moët’s expression aged beautifully—chalk and citrus with toasted restraint.”

• Michael Broadbent: ★★★★
  “Vinous, creamy, and long. A sleeper vintage from a quietly confident house.”

• Decanter (archival vertical):
  “Well-aged with grace. For those who appreciate elegance over exuberance.”

🖋️ Final Impressions – Signature & Emotion

These two half-bottles of 1969 Moët & Chandon are not merely rare—they are personalized chapters of Champagne’s quieter history. Perfect for collectors, for those curating vertical tastings, or for gifting moments of true depth and reflection.

Enjoy slightly chilled (10–11°C) with a gentle pour—no decanting necessary. This is Champagne not for fireworks, but for firelight.