"Dom Pérignon Vintage 2018" (DOM PÉRIGNON VINTAGE 2018) arrives at retail stores and other outlets nationwide, rolling out from late October 2026. Dom Pérignon is a prestige champagne brand handled by Moët Hennessy Japan Co., Ltd. (Kanda-Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo).
Blessed with abundant sunshine and ample moisture in the soil to support the vines, 2018 followed an ideal course of weather. Both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reached record ripeness, and the harvest was rewarding in both quantity and quality. The resulting "Dom Pérignon Vintage 2018" is a vintage with radiant fruit, rich density, and mineral and saline notes, all melting into one another in harmony. 2018 is also the first vintage crafted by Vincent Chaperon as Chief Winemaker.
Dom Pérignon: Creating Only Vintages
Dom Pérignon's creation lies in the constant pursuit of harmony. Guided by a firm conviction to make vintages only from grapes harvested in a single year, the house engages with the character of each year and declares a vintage only in years it considers worthy of being expressed as Dom Pérignon. Through assemblage and long aging, each vintage is refined into a singular expression where the nature and human creativity of that year meet.
An Ideal Course Drawn by Nature
In 2018, a rainy winter and a sunny spring were followed by a dry summer, giving the grapes an ideal climate in which to ripen. Spring sunshine hours were 25% above average, and the summer heat exceeded the record set in 2003. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir both reached record ripeness. Abundant yields, high quality, and early ripening all came together in a rare year.
The Fifth August Harvest: Conviction Guided by Accumulated Experience
2018 was Dom Pérignon's fifth August harvest, following 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2017. Those earlier years include 2003, which became a historic vintage; 2007 and 2011, when no vintage was declared; and 2017, when production was extremely limited. Drawing on that experience in 2018, the house pushed the ripeness of the Chardonnay further while holding the Pinot Noir in restraint to pursue balance. The result is a highly refined expression with minerality, sweetness, fruit, and saltiness.
The First Vintage Crafted by Chief Winemaker Vincent Chaperon
"Dom Pérignon Vintage 2018" is the first vintage crafted by Vincent Chaperon as Chief Winemaker. Under ideal natural conditions, the Chardonnay was brought to even greater ripeness while the Pinot Noir was held in restraint to pursue balance. The tension between letting nature express itself and giving it shape through human hands was carried into the 2018 assemblage. Chaperon himself recalls the ideal natural conditions of 2018 as "like a welcoming gift for the first assemblage I crafted." After eight years of transformation in the cellar, "Dom Pérignon Vintage 2018" has revealed a singular character.
Comment from Chief Winemaker Vincent Chaperon (excerpt)
"After 20 years of exploration, Dom Pérignon has become a part of me. This wine has a wild quality, yet at the same time an approachability. That tension reflects the philosophy of the House better than anything else. Nature must be allowed to express itself freely, and at the same time, it must be given form. Both are necessary."
"Wave of Light": Richness and Harmony That Spread With Brilliance
The phrase that symbolizes "Dom Pérignon Vintage 2018" is "Wave of Light." What is felt first is a firm presence with breadth and density. Through the power of the assemblage, however, that texture gradually takes on lightness and opens up further toward the finish. Richness and tension, density and transparency, strength and lightness: opposing sensations connect as one, drawing a harmony unique to 2018 in which the gifts of nature and human creativity resonate together.
Dom Pérignon Vintage 2018 Product Details
Product Name: Dom Pérignon Vintage 2018
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Volume: 750ml
Suggested Retail Price: ¥35,600 (excluding tax) / ¥39,160 (including tax)
Availability: Retail stores nationwide and other outlets, gradually from late October 2026
Tasting Notes
Appearance: A radiant color, a light yellow with golden nuances.
Aroma: Rich, deep transparency from the first impression. The scent evokes a summer orchard heavy with fresh fruit, with tropical nuances such as yellow kiwi and mango, layered with vegetal tones reminiscent of summer salad, ivy, and balsamic herbs.
Taste: A wide, dense palate that envelops the mouth. A refined toasty note supports that richness and leads to a deep sense of fullness. A rare impression of apricot lingers through the finish.
Acclaim From Wine Critics Around the World (Excerpt)
"In the glass, it radiates a bright, vivid vitality, restrained yet layered with depth. A Dom Pérignon of astonishing precision and refinement that captivates from beginning to end." — Antonio Galloni / Vinous, 98/100
"Very well-integrated bubbles and a crisp, lively finish. Light and refined for a vintage." — James Suckling / JS Wine Ratings, 99/100
"Tense, with acidity and depth more pronounced than in 2017, while ripeness is also clearly expressed. With saltiness, minerality, and rich fruit concentration, it can also be expected to age for a long time." — Jancis Robinson / JancisRobinson.com, 18+/20
Dom Pierre Pérignon and His History
In 1668, Dom Pierre Pérignon was appointed cellar master at the Abbey of Hautvillers in the Champagne region. For the next 47 years, he devoted his life to the ideal of creating "the world's finest wine," and his spirit and philosophy live on in Dom Pérignon today.
For Dom Pérignon, the pursuit of "harmony" is not merely about perfecting flavor but about creation itself, aimed at evoking emotion. Through that pursuit, the house's aesthetics and sensory values are woven together: precision, power, tactile quality, minerality, complexity, completeness, and a long, beautiful lingering aftertaste.
Dom Pérignon's creation also rests on an unwavering philosophy: to remain a "vintage champagne" expressed solely through the harvest of a single year, no matter how difficult that year may be. At times, the house does not hesitate to decide against declaring a vintage in years that fall short of this ideal.
"Time" is also an important element of Dom Pérignon. The quiet years of aging in the darkness of the cellar, together with the lees, give each vintage new value and character, refining it into a singular expression.
With endless exploration and inspiration imbued with mystery, Dom Pérignon continues its eternal journey in search of perfect harmony.
Official website: https://www.domperignon.com
