MOËT & CHANDON The Collection IMPÉRIALE CRÉATION NO. 1

In honor of its 280th anniversary, Moët & Chandon is delighted to present Collection Impériale Création No. 1, a timeless creation of intricate complexity. This cuvée is the inaugural release in the Collection Impériale line launched this year in Asia to celebrate this milestone. To pay a transcendental artistic tribute to the heritage of the House, the brand is delighted to collaborate with contemporary American artist, Daniel Arsham.

Benoît Gouez

Haute Oenologie is a term coined by Moët & Chandon to describe the winemaking expertise perfected by the artistry and virtuosity of the House’s Cellar Masters over generations. It goes from the Maison’s precise vinification science and selection of the best vintages, aged through different processes – selected strategically to elevate each champagne -, to the ability to assemble them harmoniously and mature them in the historical cellars, with passion and patience, respecting the flow of time.

This craft, the founding vision of Moët & Chandon, has led the Maison to host, today, a vast reserve wine library, one of the largest in Champagne: a tool with which the current Cellar Master, Benoît Gouez, reaches into the depths of history. It is rooted in the 280-year-old artistry of the House that produces champagnes of exceptional quality and complexity, characterized by their harmonious blend of flavors, delicate aromas, and refined, enduring finish. As such, Haute Oenologie epitomizes the highest expression of Moët & Chandon’s savoir-vin.

As the highest expression of Moët & Chandon’s Haute Oenologie, Collection Impériale Création No. 1, is a multi-layered champagne that transcends the perception of time: achieving harmony between the freshness of youth and the maturity of age, it is complex yet accessible.

Collection Impériale also pays tribute to the House’s own “Imperial” heritage, born from the relationship initiated in 1801 by Jean-Remy Moët, grandson of the Maison’s founder, with Napoléon Bonaparte, and nurtured over the years with the Emperor and his entourage. In 1869 when the House created Moët Impérial, it unveiled a champagne so distinctive that it suitably honored that “Imperial” relationship and went on to become the House’s signature blend.

At the same time, Collection Impériale Création No. 1 also salutes the future. It sets in motion a countdown to Moët & Chandon’s 300th anniversary, a momentous milestone that will be reached in 2043. Beginning with the release of No. 1, a new Création will be revealed every two years, enriching, over time, the portfolio of Collection Impériale.

Collection Impériale Création No. 1 is a blend of seven remarkable vintages, each with singularities, and each carefully evaluated and aged in distinct environments to enhance its individual qualities. Their intricate assemblage begins with the fresh 2013 Grand Vintage, aged in stainless steel tanks, complemented by the refined 2012, powerful 2010, tense 2008, full-bodied 2006, lively 2000, aged in oak casks, and finished with the elegant 2004, aged on lees in the bottle after the second fermentation. Leveraging the art of selecting, aging, blending, and maturing – with no added sugar at dosage – Collection Impériale, Création No. 1 is a brut nature champagne that delivers a pure expression of its flavors.

Collection Impériale Création No. 1 is now available at selected stores.

Seeking a convergence of art and the artistry of winemaking, Moët & Chandon extended an invitation to the visionary Daniel Arsham to translate the essence of cellar master Benoît Gouez’s idea of Haute Oenologie – embodied in Collection Impériale Création No. 1 – into a masterpiece.

One of the preeminent artists of his generation and hailed as the Archaeologist of the Future, Arsham intertwines the essence of time within his contemporary creations, seamlessly bridging the realms of past, present and future in a variety of materials.  Arsham’s remarkable artistic prowess harmoniously converges with the craft of champagne-making, a savoir-faire inherently bound by the concept of time, from harvest to slow maturation of champagnes in the cellars. Arsham’s aesthetic approach found a particularly fitting synergy with the House’s inherently time-sensitive champagne-making expertise.

During a springtime visit to Epernay, Arsham explored the estate of Moët & Chandon in the company of Benoît Gouez. While the natural beauty of the vineyards and the historical legacy preserved within the House’s centuries-old cellars left an indelible impression on the artist, a large stained glass by the artist Félix Gaudin, that has adorned the entrance of the cellars since the late 1890s, piqued his curiosity.  Its central figure titled “La Renommée” is an allegorical representation of the global reputation and success of Moët & Chandon, which depicts the connection between the House’s abundance and its achievements through representations of its bountiful vineyards and the savoir-faire of its winemakers.

Drawing inspiration from his relief, Arsham ingeniously designed 85 limited-edition bottles — extraordinary three-dimensional time capsules that serve as packaging for Collection Impériale Création No. 1. These exquisite artist-designed objects transcend their utilitarian purpose as collectibles that will endure long after the champagne they hold is savored, enchanting discerning owners for years to come.

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