Cover Dom Pérignon Society Chefs from Southeast Asia came together in Singapore for an intimate tasting of its new vintages, and a special pairing menu by Dom Pérignon Society chef Natsuko Shoji from Japan (Photo: Dom Pérignon)
Dom Pérignon Society Chefs from Southeast Asia came together in Singapore for an intimate tasting of its new vintages, and a special pairing menu by Dom Pérignon Society chef Natsuko Shoji from Japan (Photo: Dom Pérignon)
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Every Dom Pérignon vintage is born of nature, shaped by the singular conditions of one growing season. To celebrate the arrival of three new expressions, the maison gathered its Dom Pérignon Society chefs and guests in Singapore for an evening where exceptional cuisine, rare vintages and thoughtful pairings took centre stage
Unlike many champagne houses, Dom Pérignon doesn’t guarantee a vintage every year. As chef de cave Vincent Chaperon once told Tatler: “Every year, nature gives us a different emotion… we don’t produce vintages if nature doesn’t allow it.” Each bottle, then, is not simply a new release but a reflection of a singular growing season, shaped entirely by nature. When a vintage does emerge, especially during a challenging year, it becomes an occasion worth celebrating, especially among the chefs of the Dom Pérignon Society, who share the maison’s pursuit of craftsmanship, creativity and excellence.
That moment arrived in Singapore on June 29, when Dom Pérignon Society chefs and guests from across Southeast Asia gathered at the historic Chijmes to celebrate the unveiling of three new expressions: Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017, Dom Pérignon Vintage 2008 - Plénitude 2 and Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2010. Singapore’s own Dave Pynt (Burnt Ends) and Sébastien Lépinoy (Les Amis) were joined by Malaysia’s Darren Chin (DC Restaurant) and Indonesia’s Maurizio Bombini (Mauri Restaurant), along with champagne lovers and celebrities from across the region, for an evening of that honoured not just the new releases, but the enduring bond between fine dining and champagne.
In case you missed it: Discovering the taste sensations of the new Dom Pérignon champagne releases
Echoing the annual Révélations event, the intimate gathering kickstarted with a private tasting of the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017
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Echoing the format of Dom Pérignon’s Révélations gathering—most recently held in Bilbao, Spain—the evening opened with an intimate solo tasting of Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017. As guests, including Thai actor Mew Suppasit and Singaporean actor Glenn Yong, sipped champagne, ambient music played through headphones, heightening the senses and setting the mood for the dinner to come. “This evening is a celebration of gastronomy. The Dom Pérignon Society honours the special connection between Dom Pérignon and some of the world’s most influential chefs,” said Sébastien Vilmot, managing director of Moët Hennessy Southeast Asia.
That connection took centre stage during a conversation moderated by marketing director Laura Drozdowski, where the chefs reflected on their earliest encounters with Dom Pérignon and how those moments shaped their culinary journeys. Pynt fondly recalled his time at Tetsuya’s in Sydney, where a bottle of Dom Pérignon Vintage 1996 was opened to celebrate the restaurant’s inclusion in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. “I just remember having Dom Pérignon as the pinnacle of excellence in culinary craft and precision, and that impact has just never left,” he said.
Likewise, Lepinoy’s relationship with the champagne began early in his career in France. “As a 16-year-old chef working long hours with no money, my first taste of the champagne during a staff Christmas dinner inspired a lifelong tradition of pouring it to celebrate special moments,” he shared.
Read more: Meeting of two icons: how Les Amis became the newest member of the Dom Pérignon Society in Singapore
Above Dom Pérignon Society chefs Dave Pynt of Burnt Ends, Sebastien Lepinoy of Les Amis, Natsuko Shoji of Été, Darren Chin of DC Restaurant and Maurizio Bombini of Mauri Restaurant
Dom Pérignon Society chefs Dave Pynt of Burnt Ends, Sebastien Lepinoy of Les Amis, Natsuko Shoji of Été, Darren Chin of DC Restaurant and Maurizio Bombini of Mauri Restaurant
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Those shared memories of craftsmanship, celebration and excellence naturally set the stage for the evening’s dining experience. To bring that philosophy to life, the maison invited acclaimed Japanese chef Natsuko Shoji, a Dom Pérignon Society chef, to create a four-course menu inspired by the theme of “Harmony”. Each course was paired with one of the newly unveiled vintages, showcasing how the dialogue between champagne and cuisine lies at the heart of the Dom Pérignon Society.
Dinner opened with something almost too pretty to eat; Shoji’s visually stunning Pomelo Blossom, its sacs individually separated and rearranged into the shape of a sunflower, and crowned with caviar. Alongside it came the evening’s first champagne highlight: the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017, the youngest vintage of the night but far from the lightest, its aromas of petrichor, jasmine and candied zest giving way to delicate sweetness and bitterness that lifted the dish’s citrus notes and bright acidity.
Above Pomelo Blossom paired with the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017
Above Premium abalone dish paired with the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2008 Plénitude 2
Pomelo Blossom paired with the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2017
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Next came Shoji’s premium abalone dish, layered into delicate strips with sweet white asparagus and a rich, delicately spiced sauce Albert. A dish this robust called for a champagne with real presence, and the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2008 Plénitude 2 delivered just that. It was the favourite of many at the table; the extra years in the cellar evident were from the first sip thanks to its remarkable substance, length and complexity.
The last of the savoury courses was a lobster pie: a zucchini flower stuffed with hairy crab, served in a rich bisque and paired with the Dom Pérignon Vintage Rosé Vintage 2010. Elegant yet powerful, the champagne opened with vibrant red fruits before giving way to a subtle hint of spice. Its freshness balanced the richness of the dish and primed the palate for Shoji’s classic mango tart dessert, which closed the evening on a bright, elegant note.
Above Dom Pérignon’s newly released vintages
Dom Pérignon’s newly released vintages
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With the new vintages now revealed, the celebration continues beyond this singular event. Throughout the month of August, Dom Pérignon Society restaurants in Singapore and Southeast Asia will offer exclusive by-the-glass pairings, inviting gastronomes and champagne lovers to discover the maison’s latest releases with exquisite food. These are Burnt Ends, Butcher’s Block, Les Amis and Saint Pierre in Singapore, Potong in Thailand, DC restaurant in Malaysia, and Mauri Restaurant in Indonesia. Much like the vintages themselves, no two dining experiences are meant to be exactly alike—and that’s precisely what makes these exclusive experiences worth seeking out.
The exclusive by-the-glass pairings are available at Dom Pérignon Society restaurants in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia throughout the month of August.
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Images: Dom Pérignon
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Dudi Aureus is the senior dining and travel editor at Tatler Singapore, covering the city’s most exciting restaurants, global travel trends, and the personalities shaping the culinary and lifestyle scenes. She also serves as co-jury chair for the Tatler Best awards in Singapore, celebrating the very best in hospitality. When she’s off duty, she can often be found at a favourite hole-in-the-wall Thai spot, savouring a perfectly balanced pad thai.
