Emirates' Champagne Just Got More Exclusive

I redeemed MXP - JFK this past Saturday and I can confirm that Emirates is still serving the 2003 P2 in First. What an incredible experience, I feel so lucky to have tried it. The P2 was quite different than the 2012 vintage, which I also recently tasted-- for me the P2 was still fresh, but with strong notes of walnut and cashews. It was a fantastic experience and surprising, given that TBH the 2012 Dom was not to my personal tastes (I know it's a very high quality wine enjoyed by many, just not to my own preferences).

In addition to the P2, I was delighted to also be able to try 2005 Chateau D'Yquem (also an LVMH brand) which typically sells for about the same price as the P2 (another amazing investment by Emirates). For me, the standout of the experience was Graham's 1979 vintage port, a smaller price tag, but still an outstanding experience.

Overall, I definitely feel I got my 85k miles' worth 🙂

@ Kay_Elemeno -- AWESOME! Thanks for sharing, happy you had a great experience.

Very much agree on the 2005 Chateau D'Yquem, I had P2 on a flight SEA-DXB - which was outstanding as it gave me time to go through 7 bottles of P2 😀 that I (obviously) enjoyed but the Chateau D'Yquem was also a standout.

I was on EVA a few weeks ago and they served Veuve Clicquot LA Grand Dame 2008.

If Emirates is serving 2005 Chateau D'Yquem then I'm booking Emirates flights in 2023. It's the perfect way to end a superb meal. Or if the meal is just average then it's an even better way to end the meal 🙂

On Eva last november and serving Veuve Clicquot La Grand Dame 2008 that was lovely as usual, as all top notch service and food on Eva Air

As someone who doesn't fly Emirates I think this is great news. These champagne brands are all big names, but not really that special. Quite happy that the other airlines will be forced to look for alternatives. Would much rather a lessor known better quality champagne, but obviously Emirates is a very flashy airline, so using very flashy brands makes sense.

I can confirm EVA stopped serving Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2006 and its rose version for BR88 CDG-TPE business class. They are using Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle now.

One week ago on TPE-YVR EVA was serving Duval-Leroy Clos Des Bouveries 2006.

I had Alexandra Rosé at QR J a few days ago. Superb champagne. IMHO much better that VC, MC, DP.

I'm glad that Emirates will serve these bland champagnes on an exclusive basis, so that QR (and JL, NH) can continue to serve the really good stuff.

Makes complete sense as it is an exclusive with one company, LVMH, which happens to be controlled by the world's richest person, Bernard Arnault.

Flying TPE-BNE just over a month ago was Grande Dame 06. Perhaps they're just running out the reserves. Not that I really fly Eva much, but it's a shame given how I think La Grande Dame is pretty good day wine.

** 2008

Kay- was the 2012 you tasted also in the air or was it "on the ground?". I've heard some say that wine flavor profiles are different at altitude- thoughts?

I sense a great deal between Emirates and LVMH here with good prices per bottle for Emirates.

I had a '21 bottle Evian water in Economy on Jetstar and the plastic tones were a perfect finish to my raisin Danish. I felt bad for those who had been stuck with a '23 Dasani. Obviously Jetstar has aligned with an exclusive french dealer to aquire this brand and a much classier approach than the filtered tap water that is Dasani.

Meanwhile American has secured the finest $5 champagne money can buy.

One thing champagne connoisseurs seem to agree on (I am not one) is that judging champagne above the clouds by the same standards of on-ground champagne is silly.
It is true for every wine (and food) but with champagne quality having a driect relationship to air pressure and air humidity, many of the very high end champagnes, which are spectacular at the lounge, end up being not all that great in the skies. By the same token, some simpler, younger champagnes (and even heaven forbid sparking wine) shine when consumed at 30,000 feet

'08 is a better vintage, too.

The brand they serve is not the reason I choose an airline.

Will this challenge Delta to finally do better than Andre?

I tasted the 2012 on the ground. I attended this year's La Fête du Champagne by bidding Marriott points. HIGHLY recommend if you're a Champagne nerd. It was an amazing opportunity to taste practically all of the big brands of Champagne, but an even better opportunity to taste smaller, grower champagnes. The best part is that most of the brands have the winemakers in attendance so you can get a really personalized experience.

Thanks, Ben. I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. I've been working up to this for years thanks to your help. It was amazing.

I could not agree more. There are so many boutique producers, that use Grand Crus only. They might not scale to the business class volumes or large airlaines, but would be great for first or smaller airlines.

Flew round trip ORD-TPE-ORD on EVA in November. On the outbound flight we were served Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame. I noticed the menu stated that VC La Grande Dame Rose was served only on New York and Paris routes.
On the return flight, to my great surprise, we were served VC La Grande Dame Rose 2006, which retails upwards of $350 pre-tax.

How'd you get a future vintage? This isn't American cars we're talking about.

Jetstar now fly through time?

Delta tops every airline, they've literally canned their "sparkling wine"

I find Quatter Airlines yet still many better!

One thing that non connoisseurs seem to agree on is judging champagne based on price tag. A $250 Korbel must be better than a $100 Moet.

And you enjoyed the taste and flavour or only the price?

Even the Qatar Airways lounge in Singapore changed their brut champagne from Veuve Cliquot to Taittinger now!

The rose is still the same (Bollinger)

Due to timezone differences, Australia is already in 2023

Hi Bruno...is Taittinger more exclusive than Veuve Cliquot?

Point of order: Veuve Cliquot is not “great Champagne.” Within the bounds of Champagne, it’s not even good Champagne.

I’m flying from SFO to TPE next week on EVA and the online menu says they’re serving 2006 Duval-Leroy Clos Des Bouveries. That’s unfortunate…I was definitely hoping they’d have La Grande Dame.

From on EVA Air a week ago both into and ex-TPE. As of mid-December, they're still serving Veuve Clicquot onboard, including the very enjoyable La Grande Dame 2006. Not sure if they're exhausting remaining inventory, but I'll be flying them again soon early next year and will give an update!

I’m currently on Eva J YYZ-TPE (Dec 24), and looks like they have already stopped serving La Grande Dame even though it’s still on their wine menu. Replaced with the 2006 Duval-Leroy 'Clos des Bouveries' Extra Brut instead.

Lots of "it's not that great" here, but who's serving top-level champagne in business class? Maybe Emirates with Moet & Chandon? Qatar and Etihad serve mid-range, Cathay Pacific serves Billecart-Salmon Brut ($60). Even Air France serve the same range of champagnes.

AFAIK, nobody goes over the top in J with champagne. As long as it's "solid" that's good enough for me.