Dom Perignon, a Benedictine monk, appointed cellarer in the Hautvillers Abbaye in 1668, marked his time in contributing to the development of champagne, originally designed to be a "still" wine (without bubbles). The advent of Napoleon, a friend of Jean-Remy Chandon in 1804, marks the beginning of an era of uninterrupted commercial success for Moët & Chandon, which is now globally renowned. "The" Dom Perignon, cuvee prestige of the house, is certainly the most famous champagne in the world. Sold from 1936 (the vintage 1921, produced only 300 copies), it experienced immediate worldwide success. This wine, bottled in a particular eighteenth-century flask-shaped bottle, is produced only in the best years. The volume of bottles of Dom Perignon produced is a secret jealously guarded by the LVMH group, now owners of Moët & Chandon.
Benoît Gouez has made a number of improvements since taking over as cellar master in 2005, but the common denominator for a bottle of Moët & Chandon – fruitiness, and a balance between roundness and freshness – has remained unchanged.