An Unprecedented World That Impressed Celebrities and Business Leaders | Dom Pérignon

Dom Pérignon

Report: The Dom Pérignon P2 Experience!

An Unprecedented World That Wowed Celebrities and Business Leaders (1)

It felt like stepping into a theme park attraction. The date was July 28th. The vast space of the Tokyo Distribution Center warehouse, conveniently located near Haneda Airport, was transformed for one night into a fantastical realm showcasing the unique energy and creativity of "Dom Pérignon P2-1998." It brought surprise and wonder to over a hundred guests.

Text by Takashi Tsuchida

Elevating the anticipation for celebratory champagne

"Dom Pérignon P2-1998," released last November.

Ah, this is truly exquisite. Once you've tasted this, no other flavor can possibly compare. Dom Pérignon is, of course, the undisputed master of vintage champagne. Its balanced profile and mellow complexity from aging are already well-known, but...

However, there's always something more. If Dom Pérignon were a sound recording, this would be high-resolution audio. While the fundamental taste of Dom Pérignon's exquisite balance is maintained, it's filled with a subtly different energy. Compared to regular Dom Pérignon, it's not that one aspect is superior, but rather that the entire experience feels infused with vitality. It's as if the five-pointed chart representing its flavor profile has simply been amplified. That's why it's high-resolution. Even if you've heard the song before, it offers a fresh, moving experience as if for the first time.

To get ahead of myself, let me explain the background of the event. The star of today is a rare new product, launched last November by Dom Pérignon with a new name and presentation: Dom Pérignon P2-1998. P2 signifies the second 'plénitude' or peak of aging, and the 1998 vintage is currently available.

All Dom Pérignon champagnes are aged for at least eight years, but P2 is an exceptionally precious champagne that reaches its peak after further maturation. In fact, Dom Pérignon P2-1998 reached its first plénitude in 2005 and was released to the market as a standard Dom Pérignon. This means Dom Pérignon P2-1998 spent a total of over 16 years in the cellar for long-term aging before being unveiled today.

Richard Geoffroy, Dom Pérignon's Chef de Cave, who flew in for this event, said during his speech:

"Dom Pérignon reaches several peaks of aging throughout its long life. However, it is precisely because of its inherent potential that it can achieve this second plénitude, as we are celebrating today.

The P2 in the product name signifies this second peak of aging. Being able to present the first peak in 2005 and now, the second peak, is possible only through meticulous observation of the wine's growth and evolution."

Richard Geoffroy, Dom Pérignon's Chef de Cave

The term 'plénitude' originally refers to human maturity, but Dom Pérignon uses it to denote a peak of aging. And this aging seems to occur in stages. The timing for releasing each vintage at its peak potential is carefully chosen. This involves the winemaker's experience and intuition, but ultimately, nature is involved. Things don't always go as planned. That's precisely what makes it so precious.

The event began by immersing guests in the world of P1. Each attendee was handed a glass at the entrance to taste the standard Dom Pérignon Vintage 2005. Birds chirped, and church bells chimed. The visuals displayed the Abbey of Hautvillers, the spiritual root of Dom Pérignon.

Lush trees represented the bounty of nature, and images of the Abbey of Hautvillers were projected onto the walls.

James Peyton, President of MHD Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, then gave a welcome address.

"Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining us for this Dom Pérignon experience dinner. We will now guide you into a world beyond the P2 dimension."

The next moment, the door to the P2 space opened, revealing a completely different experience from P1.

P2: A World of Another Dimension, Full of Energy

Dom Pérignon

Report: Experiencing the Dom Pérignon P2 Experience!

An Unprecedented World That Wowed Celebrities and Business Leaders (2)

P2: A World of Another Dimension, Full of Energy

Here, Dom Pérignon P2-1998 was presented. A rich aroma wafted from the glass.

Thunder rumbled through the venue, and a waterfall cascaded from the stage at the front. A waterfall? In a warehouse? This was a powerful opening statement. Suddenly, a spotlight illuminated the back of the floor, where flashes of plasma discharge erupted. The audience gasped. This was followed by a live installation by Atsuhiro Ito using his optron (fluorescent lamp instrument).

Yoichi Ochiai, a media artist known as a "modern-day wizard" who collaborated with three artists on this series of presentations, commented:

"I wanted to express the world of Dom Pérignon P2-1998, which condenses the energy of nature, by artificially creating concentrated natural phenomena through science. By condensing light, we can create powerful nanosecond lasers and amplify bubbles. By concentrating sound to its extreme, objects can levitate. By raising voltage to its limit, electricity can discharge through the air. If Dom Pérignon P2-1998 expresses the condensation of natural energy through taste, I wanted to appeal to the other senses."

Under Yoichi Ochiai's direction, the vast warehouse was transformed into a fantastical space showcasing the unique energy of P2.

Among these, the soap bubble installation was particularly breathtaking.

"A soap film is extremely thin, thinner than the wavelength of light, which is why its surface appears colored," explained Ochiai. "So, what if we could express Dom Pérignon's soft, elegant bubbles on the ground?" This visual representation carried that meaning. It felt as if one were enveloped in champagne bubbles.

1. Amplifying Dom Pérignon's bubbles using the properties of light.

2. High voltage, condensing energy, causes dielectric breakdown of air and generates lightning.

3. Using invisible "ultrasound" to release the constraints of gravity, causing objects to levitate.

Guided by an aurora (laser light show) leading to the next space, guests were directed to their seats. This marked the beginning of the dinner, designed to complement Dom Pérignon P2-1998.

The "Dom Pérignon P2 Experience" event transformed the stages of wine aging into spatial dimensions, offering a sensation of being transported to a higher realm. The key to this was time.

Richard Geoffroy took office as Chef de Cave in 1990. It was he who, noticing older vintages stored in Dom Pérignon's cellars for research and development, observed them for about ten years, leading to the current P2. He was the driving force behind this.

In a way, his actions must have carried a risk for the brand. However, the result was a great success. The dynamic changes in champagne's potential over time, brought about by the passage of time, further enhanced Dom Pérignon's allure.

Indeed, Richard Geoffroy posits that Dom Pérignon has three peaks of aging. Of course, the forces of nature do not always cooperate 100%, but this is precisely what gives the world of Dom Pérignon its profound depth.

Richard Geoffroy (right), smiling on the dinner venue's stage. Alongside him, the acclaimed chef Yosuke Suga of "SUGALABO," who guided the participants through a dazzling "taste" experience after the series of "visual" experiences.Yosuke Sugaand

Richard Geoffroy
Chef de Cave of Dom Pérignon. Born in 1954 into a family of winemakers in Vertus, Champagne, he initially pursued medicine, earning his doctorate in 1982. He then enrolled at the National School of Viticulture in Reims. After graduating, he studied business fundamentals in Napa Valley, California, and was appointed Technical Advisor at Domaine Chandon, bridging the New World and Champagne. In 1990, he became Chef de Cave of Dom Pérignon, a position he holds to this day.

Dom Pérignon P2-1998
Volume: 750mL
Suggested Retail Price: ¥53,000 (excluding tax / gift box included)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Available at: Retailers nationwide, major department stores nationwide

Inquiries

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Tel. 03-5217-9732

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