Emirates first class is one of the best first class products in the world. In particular, the airline invests an incredible amount of money in its first class soft product, ranging from “unlimited” caviar, to endless wines. While Emirates is known for serving Dom Perignon in first class, the airline is upping its game for a limited time.
I first wrote about this a couple of weeks ago when I noticed it on the inflight menu. The airline has now formally announced this, so I wanted to go over all the details.
In this post:
Emirates serving 2003 Dom Perignon P2 in first class
Over the past 16 years, Emirates has invested more than a billion dollars in its wine program, and as part of that the airline procures the best vintages up to a decade before they’re ready to be consumed. That’s some serious effort, and Emirates invests more in wine than any other airline in the world.
In first class Emirates typically serves Dom Perignon champagne, which is fantastic, among the best you’ll find on any airline. Emirates usually serves whichever vintage is most common at that time. For example, at the moment Emirates is serving 2012 Dom Perignon on most flights.
For those flying Emirates first class in the near future, you might be in for a treat. On select routes in September and October of 2022, Emirates is serving 2003 Dom Perignon “P2” champagne. This doesn’t seem to be consistently offered on all routes, but rather I see this listed for select flights to many regions, including Asia and Europe.
Specifically, you can go to this page, and you can look up the wine offering for each flight, based on the date and route. Quite a few routes are showing the 2003 Dom Perignon P2.
Emirates has served Dom Perignon P2 a few times in the past, including the 1998 and 2000 vintage. This is the first time Emirates will be serving the 2003 P2 vintage.
What is Dom Perignon P2 champagne, anyway?
While 2012 Dom Perignon retails for around $250 per bottle, 2003 Dom Perignon P2 retails for well over $400 per bottle, and that’s if you can even find it, since it’s rare.
For those not familiar with P2, the term is short for “second plenitude.” The idea is that the P2s have undergone much longer lees aging than vintage equivalents, resulting in additional freshness and complexity. Significantly less P2 champagne is made and it takes longer to produce, and that’s also why it’s significantly more expensive.
Here’s how Emirates describes the 2003 Dom Perignon P2:
Rich and multi-layered, Plénitude 2 provides a complex spiral of aromas that reveal over time in the glass. First the softness of lime tree, then a toasty minerality followed by dried apricots and apples, along with candied raspberry and fig. Lemon verbena, rosemary and white pepper appear for an instant, followed by dark spices and liquorice root. These develop in the glass into a profound and mineral-toned harmonious bouquet. Its vibrant yet generous palate, powerful and precise with great energy, leads to a persistent, spicy, and saline finish.
Bottom line
Through the end of October 2022 and on select routes, Emirates is serving 2003 Dom Perignon P2 in first class, in place of the 2012 Dom Perignon. Dom Perignon’s P2 vintages are significantly rarer, and as a result are also significantly more expensive. If you have any upcoming flights in Emirates first class, make sure you check the wine list, to see if you’ll be treated to this good stuff.
Anyone flying Emirates first class soon, and see 2003 Dom Perignon P2 on the menu?
I'll be in F next week and when I looked at the wine list a couple weeks back it showed P2, but when I looked again the other day it was back to 2012. Guess I'll find out in a few days.
Fingers crossed maybe they will add it to my LAX-Dxb flight in November
I personally don't care about stuff like this at all, and I wonder to what extent this sort of thing is more directed at brand management generally rather than actual customer preference. Would anybody who could afford to fly in First choose Emirates over a competitor with a better schedule or routing because of a bottle of Champagne they can buy on the ground for $150?
Emirates is good at the flashy stuff like caviar...
I personally don't care about stuff like this at all, and I wonder to what extent this sort of thing is more directed at brand management generally rather than actual customer preference. Would anybody who could afford to fly in First choose Emirates over a competitor with a better schedule or routing because of a bottle of Champagne they can buy on the ground for $150?
Emirates is good at the flashy stuff like caviar and showers (which can be taken much more comfortably on the ground) but less good at the core product and still tacky interiors.
Of course. And in a double-blind tasting, non-experts couldn’t tell the difference either, especially given the less ideal environment.
I just checked my flight in 3 weeks and it only mentions wines. There was no champagne on the list. I’m flying F DXB-MXP-JFK beginning of October
you should post a few more times in this channel about your next flight....
You are in a room full of First Class experts, no one gives a F about your first trip in it 10 times every hour.
He’s just excited don’t be a grouch and a wet blanket.
@ big al
You most certainly do not belong in a circle of first class experts.
A circle of business class plebs would better suit you.
P2 is great but 03 is not one of the best vintages in recent memory. 12, 08, 02 and 96 are the best in the last 25 years.
Still, serving P2 in first is awesome.
As a whole 03 was not a good vintage but have you tried p2 03? It’s mind blowing. Honestly was far superior to p2 2002
Rostered on my SIN-DXB flight in a few days. Interested to give it a whirl.
The 'standard' 2012 hasn't been amazing - maybe a bit young?
Wish they would serve two-buck-chuck and kill all the new fuel surcharges. Just looked up a trip from LAX-SEZ one way and the taxes/charges came to almost $1300USD….along with 142K points.
TD
It will be gone by September. Just before my first class flight in October.
Fab news, but will they spoil the experience by serving it at the wrong temperature?
The otherwise excellent Asian airlines are notorious for serving white wines at almost room temperature. I have also been served full-body reds which have obviously had fridge time.
I know wine consumption is not a big part of Asian cultures, but (a) cabin crews are recruited from all oner the world, and (b) correct wine service is a...
Fab news, but will they spoil the experience by serving it at the wrong temperature?
The otherwise excellent Asian airlines are notorious for serving white wines at almost room temperature. I have also been served full-body reds which have obviously had fridge time.
I know wine consumption is not a big part of Asian cultures, but (a) cabin crews are recruited from all oner the world, and (b) correct wine service is a big part of their F&B training.
So no excuse for being clueless there.
@glenn t
Good point the champagne needs to be slightly chilled or room temperature. If you’re saying the champagne will be over chilled just wait a few minutes or hold the glass by your hand.
Room temperature?!
Please folks, DO NOT serve your champagne at room temperature. 10-13 degrees Celsius is ideal. Any colder and you won't be able to taste it properly; at room temperature it will be an unpleasant experience.
Don't take my word for it, ask your friend the internet.
@Peter
True but If you had to choose between room temperature or over chilled I’d pick room temp. That way at least you can taste the notes of the champagne.
I drink Korbel ice cold and near frozen. I don’t need to taste anything other than sour apple.
@Peter
By the time Americans convert Celsius to Fahrenheit the champagne will already be at room temperature.
It's wine!!
Which I believe over 80% can't tell any difference on a blind test if its a $20 or $5000 a bottle. And likely 95% can't distinguish anything more than $100.
There's vintage, grapes, blends, etc. that changes the taste profile.
If you enjoy the taste of $30 bottle lucky you. Some schmuck might unfortunately like the $300 on a blind test.
But if you want to brag, stick to major brands...
It's wine!!
Which I believe over 80% can't tell any difference on a blind test if its a $20 or $5000 a bottle. And likely 95% can't distinguish anything more than $100.
There's vintage, grapes, blends, etc. that changes the taste profile.
If you enjoy the taste of $30 bottle lucky you. Some schmuck might unfortunately like the $300 on a blind test.
But if you want to brag, stick to major brands that artists rap or TikTok about.
I've seen people who thinks Salon is a promotion for Shrek.
@Eskimo
For an engagement party nothing less than Dom Perignon would do because 20 and 30 yr olds know nothing about champagne. They need to take photos for their social media.
But we're not talking about the 80%, we're talking about the people who travel in first class on Emirates. Some of them may not drink, some of them may have no idea, but a good proportion of them would have a least a reasonable knowledge of the varieties on the winelist and the regions of origin.
@Pete
Next time go ask people 'people who travel in first class on Emirates', see if 'a good proportion of them' can even name the first growths. If anything that should be the 'a reasonable knowledge' on wine.
Flying First or Coach, it's wine, it's subjective, and it's blind test results will blow your mind.
For those who say they are unimpressed by Dom, if we are talking your “standard” vintage Dom, I generally agree. Although some vintages I find exceptional, such as 2008. But Dom P2 has pretty much always been marvelous—and I recently had a glass of Dom P2 2003 at Plénitude in Paris and it is stunning. This is not your run of the mill Dom and is really worth drinking. Better than Krug for sure.
Thanks for the info.
Salon and Krug much better
Just did perth to dubai in first, standard dom there, loved it!
My flight from DXB to IAD on 9/28 doesn't show any champagne!!! Oh the humanity. I may have to cancel this flight now. All you can eat caviar with no champagne???
Indeed~ a total non sequitur right there!
You should cancel/reschedule immediately!
I have it on an upcoming flight, and can say with confidence there will be none left when we land
After 2 glasses, I'm not sure I could tell the difference. I keep my fridges stocked with Piper-Heidsieck for special occasions, having developed an affinity for it over the years. It's nice to try the really expensive stuff on flights but I would never seek it out for purchase.
Well if you can't tell the difference, that's good you are staying with Piper, for me that's probably one of the least attractive branded champagne in the market.
Agree with you there! My heart always sinks when this stuff is presented as if it's really something (lookin' at you Cathay Pacific!).
To add insult to injury it's also labelled discretely 'NV' ! Bleh......
That's a cool bottle....can I ask to keep the bottle after a flight? lol
I’m on a DXB-SEA flight right now. First is only half full and I’ve had a full bottle of Dom 2003 P2 all by myself, and the purser just now gave me the empty bottle to keep. And the fantastic flight attendant is now refilling my glass from a second bottle of P2! I’m going to have to put the brakes on this or I’ll pass out and miss experiencing the remaining 11 hours of my flight!!
Dom Perignon is owned by LVMH. Like a lot of their products the quality is good, but far from the best. A lot of what you're paying for is the massive amount of marketing that they put behind their products.
Krug or Dom Ruinart over Dom Perignon any day. If you're really lucky Salon.
Krug and Ruinart are also owned by LVMH.
I wish they served Veuve Clicquot.
Cool - thanks for sharing. A nice surprise. I’ll be able to sample on Sunday, DXB-MLE!
Gotta say — not impressed with Dom. Had it on Singapore Airlines and a Vegas nightclub— and nothing to write home about. We need to stop hyping Dom
I gotta agree with you. I really do not think Dom is worth all of the hype. I much prefer Krug myself.
Its champagne so I'm not going to go out and spend all that money on a botte, but that being said I find Dom to be the best tasting of the champagnes I have had which includes many of the top brands.
I flew EK a few years ago and was pleasantly surprised to see they were serving a Dom Perignon 1998 P2. It was brilliant!
how does the saying go... you can tell old money vs new money, because new money always orders the most expensive wine (or champagne)...
No P2 on any of my 3 F flights next month, but there is Chateau D'Yquem 2005 which IMHO is more special (retail around $250 for a half bottle).