To mark Moët & Chandon’s 280th anniversary this year, the maison has released Collection Impériale Création No.1. The champagne is a blend of seven vintages whose respective qualities have been enhanced through ageing in distinct environments, from stainless steel tanks and oak casks to being bottle aged on lees after a second fermentation.

Moët & Chandon Collection Impériale Création No. 1

Paying homage to both the house’s past and future, No. 1 celebrates Moët & Chandon’s “Imperial” heritage: the relationship between Jean-Remy Moët and Napoléon Bonaparte, as well as Moët Impérial, the champagne revealed in 1869 that went on to become the house’s signature blend. It is the first in a series of Créations to be unveiled over the next couple of decades.

Moët & Chandon cellar master Benoît Gouez sniffs a glass of Collection Impériale Création No. 1

Collection Impériale Création No. 1 is characterised by a bright yellow hue as inviting as its aromatic profile, which gradually reveals dry notes including liquorice root, mocha and toast. As these emerge, more dominant aromas of madeleine, fresh hazelnut and vanilla come to the fore, followed by sweet fruit and hints of dried fig and Mirabelle plum evoking a candied citrus. The palate is marked by an aromatic sweetness and a creamy, delicate effervescence, which rise to prominence before a lingering finish infused with notes of smoke and liquorice.

Daniel Arsham’s wall-mounted shallow relief conveys the legacy of Moët & Chandon and its concept of haute oenologie

Moët & Chandon invited American artist Daniel Arsham to visually convey the concept of haute oenologie – a term recently coined by the maison to refer to the process of perfecting its winemaking over generations through the virtuosity of its cellar masters. Inspired by a tour of Moët & Chandon’s estate, Arsham created a wall-mounted shallow relief that features many allusions to the maison’s legacy. He has designed 85 limited-edition bottles for Collection Impériale Création No. 1, collectibles intended to enthral owners long after they have enjoyed the champagne inside.

Collection Impériale Création No. 1 is available from Clos19, Harrods and Hedonism Wines (RRP £210); Impériale Création No. 1 by Daniel Arsham is available at Harrods (£21,500)