This could be true for any good sparkling wine, prosecco, cava whatever.

Costco is selling the 2002 Vintage Dom Perignon for about $120, I think. I've thought about acquiring some but I wonder what is a good way to enjoy it? Drink it by itself, have it with a good cheese, drink it with dinner? If you had it with dinner, what food would you serve?

The best way to enjoy a bottle of Dom is definitely with me. I'll be right over!

Hahaha. I'll lock the door. But you didn't really answer my question.

It would taste dandy by itself or you could have it with fruit, cheese or a dessert. I'm not sure about chocolate.

Champagne should be accompanied by strawberries!

Mixed with Diet Pepsi
Absolutely delicious!!!

If you can find them, the very small radishes sometimes called "breakfast radishes" are sublime with Champange. Learned this at a bistro in Paris.

On a dry champagne like Veuve or even Perrier, I can imagine the radishes. But even the tiny radishes have a good bit of spice and bitterness to them. That will kill the nice, round, winey taste of the DP. I wouldn't recommend that.

If you want spice, get some spicy chocolate.

Some dark chocolate, some strawberries or raspberries all of that will go.

What is also nice is some patisserie. Like an eclair a la vanille or even something with creme de marron (chestnut cream), e.g. a barquette or a Montblanc. Obviously these things would be exceedingly hard to find in the US unless you happen to have a real French patisserie close by.

I wouldn't do cheese, either.

OTOH, caviar and blinis will work well. Foie gras on GOOD toast will also be very nice with the DP.

If you actually want to have it with dinner, have it with quail, pigeon or duck. Or lobster.

I could very well imagine sharing a bottle for two people with 0.1l glasses. Have a glass with foie gras as a starter, followed by lobster or coquilles St. Jacques (scallops) with leeks, to be finished with a souffle a l'orange or a creme bavaroise. Pure luxury and except the bavaroise not very difficult to prepare. And if that doesn't get your man/woman in the mood, I'd look for someone else to share the DP with next time.

And keep in mind that the DP ages very well. I've had a 30 year old bottle once and it was like ambrosia. Best thing that ever hit my tongue.

So if you like this vintage and you can swing it, think about buying a case (6 bottles) and put some away for a particularly rainy or shiny day.

Till

I like to serve champagne before dinner. Seems more celebratory and I also appreciate the taste before eating or drinking other things. Caviar, raw oysters, can be nice if you want to serve some food, but I think it's nice on its own. If you have several people drinking, I would serve everyone a glass of champagne before sitting down for dinner and plan for another bottle of something heavier to be served with dinner as people finish their champagne. Believe me, if you have four people, the bottle won't last long. If there will only be two of you, I would also invest in a champagne stopper that allows you to recork the bottle after it's opened so that you don't lose those wonderful bubbles. (And it's very festive to serve it in champagne flutes.)

Some lightly grilled fresh fish .... bream or sea bass .....

with caviar, toast points and egg whites ... heaven

if buying for a special event, i would recommend buying two bottles, in case one is off. arrange to take the second bottle back if unused."you ruined my wedding, the bottle of champagne you sold me was bad"

1st of all, I think I'd rather have an NV Krug Grande Cuvee straight up over the Dom at half the price. Vintage Champagne from the major houses is rarely worth the $$. From some of the little producers it can be a bargain. Last great vintage was 04. I'd rather splurge on the caviar, lox, foie gras, mussels, smoked trout, oysters and buy 2 NV bottles of Bolly, Charles Heidseck Nicholas Feuillete or Pol Roget.

I'd take the bottle to your favorite sushi restaurant and order omekase ^

Up in the air, aboard CX F, or alike.