Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 was born in a year of extreme contrasts and presents an unwavering presence. The wine reveals its flavour profile through a unique sense of touch, embodying the essential trace of Dom Pérignon’s taste. The wine’s elegant flavours bring forth emotions that are both stimulating and soothing.
The creative ambition behind Dom Pérignon is a perpetual quest for harmony as a source of emotion, guided by principles such as precision, intensity, tactile sensation, minerality, complexity, and completeness. The Dom Pérignon 2015 vintage exemplifies this pursuit, with nearly 10 years of maturation in the darkness of cellars to reveal its full potential.
The 2015 growing season was marked by atypical weather, characterised by intense heat, drought, and abundant sunlight. Despite a mild winter and a chilly start to spring, the year was defined by an exceptionally long period of drought that spanned from mid-spring to late summer. August 2015 was the warmest in 45 years, contributing to moderate yields, limited grape size, and dense matter. Harvest began on September 7, with the Pinot Noir grapes proving to be superb – fruity, powerful, and structured. However, the chardonnay required careful sorting due to the drought’s impact.
The wine itself is initially dark and tactile, with a mysterious quality imparted by the year’s extreme weather. Its inner generosity unfolds with floral, spicy, herbal, and fruity impressions, and the full dimension of the wine stretches across the horizon with vast breadth, framed by straight lines. The mouthfeel is clear, consistent, and long-lasting, with a generous breadth where the flesh of the fruit rests on a chiseled bitter base as if the structure of the wine had emerged from the bitterness. A stimulating yet soothing presence runs through the wine, evoking a vast inner life and a restrained force, mastered by tension and defined by elegance.
Corn madeleines and caviar
Amuse bouche: scallop ceviche, wagyu beef and uni tartare, chicken liver parfait and port wine reduction, and octopus beignet with preserved lemon puree
Boston lobster and lobster bisque tart
Omi wagyu
Sea bream with sweet peas, yuzu foam and local white clams
During the unveiling event, guests experienced the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 paired with chef De Wet Visser’s culinary masterpieces. His approach focused on maximising the potential of each ingredient, resulting in a bespoke menu that accentuated the champagne’s five unique facets: intensity, tactile sensation, complexity, minerality, and precision. And surprisingly, even though many would recommend you to pair white with white meat, like fish, the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 even does well with the beef dish that was served.
This collaboration between Dom Pérignon and Potager highlighted the art of fine dining and the celebration of exceptional vintages, offering a rare opportunity for connoisseurs to experience the interplay between world-class cuisine and one of the most esteemed champagnes in the world. The Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 will be released exclusively to select establishments in September 2024.
Images: Dom Perignon