WTN: Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial NV

A Chardonnay-Pinot Noir blend.

Good frothy mousse when pouring. Many streams of fine bubbles in the glass.

Dark yellow in the glass.

Medium weight, toasty, green apple, lemon, nutty, light notes of overripe fruit, good acidity, crisp.

Drying and mouthwatering on the finish.

Very clean and refreshing. A very nice champer and a good example of a NV with a bit of age.

This is actually available at our specialty grocer. I'll have to look at the price next time I'm in there.

Thanks for the note, Bruce.

A very nice champer and a good example of a NV with a bit of age.

Did you age it, and, if so, for how long?

Hi Keith.

I didn't really age this myself. It was a gift from about six to eight months back. Am assuming-guessing the NV wine has a bit of age to it due to the flavours. I may be wrong.

Did you age it, and, if so, for how long?

Bingo! Every now and then the Brut Imperial wins a blind tasting, usually because it's been sitting somewhere for a couple years.

[Jenise]

This is actually available at our specialty grocer. I'll have to look at the price next time I'm in there.

Thanks for the note, Bruce.

Sure it's not the White Star? Moet makes the slightly sweet White Star specifically for the American Market, I understand, and it's much more common here than the Brut Imperial. In fact, I don't recall seeing the Brut Imperial here before.

This is actually available at our specialty grocer. I'll have to look at the price next time I'm in there.

Thanks for the note, Bruce.

Sure it's not the White Star? Moet makes the slightly sweet White Star specifically for the American Market, I understand, and it's much more common here than the Brut Imperial.

Jenise, White Star has now been renamed "Brut Imperial." As that change happened only fairly recently, I don't think that Bruce's bottle could be that old.

Mark Lipton
(not a fan)

[Jenise]

Jenise, White Star has now been renamed "Brut Imperial." As that change happened only fairly recently, I don't think that Bruce's bottle could be that old.

Mark Lipton
(not a fan)

Really? But the White Star's just an Extra Dry where the Brut Imperial is, well, brut! I would think they'd not rename it so much as drop the White Star period in favor of the Brut, but according to their website that's not happened yet. For the U.S. market, they show only the White Star only (well, along with the Nectar Imperial).

This is actually available at our specialty grocer. I'll have to look at the price next time I'm in there.

Thanks for the note, Bruce.

Sure it's not the White Star? Moet makes the slightly sweet White Star specifically for the American Market, I understand, and it's much more common here than the Brut Imperial.

Jenise, White Star has now been renamed "Brut Imperial." As that change happened only fairly recently, I don't think that Bruce's bottle could be that old.

Mark Lipton
(not a fan)

This is almost correct: For reasons beyond the ken of mortals, Moet appears to be retiring the "White Star" name; it will now be sold as "Imperial." There will also still be "Brut Imperial."

I have found a couple references to "Imperial," formerly known as "White Star." If this is really true, it has to be the craziest marketing move I've ever heard of, especially since Moet has a press release out touting its products as the "official Champagne" of the 2009 Oscars, and making note that "White Star" is the best known Champagne brand in the U.S. I cannot find any official statement from Moet Hennessey about changing the name.

I am totally mystified. I tried to query the Moet USA website, but it keeps timing out...

Jenise and Dave,
Check out this offering from Morrell & Co. Yes, it's the same packaging as what was formerly White Star. Dave, I think you're right that it's only labeled "Imperial" to distinguish it from the true (i.e. low dosage) Brut Imperial, but notice how Morrell lists it. Perplexing move, indeed!

Mark Lipton

[Jenise]

So has anyone ever had the Nectar Imperial? I don't think I've ever even laid eyes on a bottle. What do they sell for?

So has anyone ever had the Nectar Imperial? I don't think I've ever even laid eyes on a bottle. What do they sell for?

It is offered for $65.80 (Canadian) here.

[Jenise]

So has anyone ever had the Nectar Imperial? I don't think I've ever even laid eyes on a bottle. What do they sell for?

It is offered for $65.80 (Canadian) here.

Hmmm...I would have expected more. Interesting.

[David M. Bueker]

Remember what happened the last time the Nectar Imperial came up for discussion on the old (beige) WLDG...

[Jenise]

Remember what happened the last time the Nectar Imperial came up for discussion on the old (beige) WLDG...

Not the details...but wasn't and unsolved mystery involving someone named "Brenda" involved? Actually, until that episode came about, I'd never even heard of the Nectar Imperial and at first took the reference to be a mythical wine. Now I've heard of it, but still haven't seen it.

Remember what happened the last time the Nectar Imperial came up for discussion on the old (beige) WLDG...

Not the details...but wasn't and unsolved mystery involving someone named "Brenda" involved? Actually, until that episode came about, I'd never even heard of the Nectar Imperial and at first took the reference to be a mythical wine. Now I've heard of it, but still haven't seen it.

http://www.compleatwinegeek.com (upper right corner, being drunk au naturel by my Doppelgänger Oleg)

Mark Lipton

The Nectar is indeed a real wine, though not one I'd purchase. I prefer low (but not non) dosage. Pretty easy to find on East Coast.

White Star to me has always been "wine for people who don't LIKE wine, but want to show they'll spend $30 a bottle"

Okay, I've been asking around, and here's what I've heard: Moet is dropping "White Star" because it has down-market connotations. One source told me that Moet was disturbed at White Star's popularity among African-Americans. That's not all: It is also being nosed around that Louis Roederer is going to rebrand Cristal, because of its iconic popularity among rap musicians.

For once, I am speechless.

Okay, I've been asking around, and here's what I've heard: Moet is dropping "White Star" because it has down-market connotations. One source told me that Moet was disturbed at White Star's popularity among African-Americans. That's not all: It is also being nosed around that Louis Roederer is going to rebrand Cristal, because of its iconic popularity among rap musicians.

For once, I am speechless.

Wow. Just.... wow.

Mark Lipton