Dom Pérignon Vs Krug: Battle of the Champagnes
Apr 30, 2025
In the world of champagne, Dom Pérignon and Krug are beyond doubt the best amongst many. They share a lot in common (under the same ownership of LVMH), yet different in many extraordinary ways.
Dom Pérignon: A Pop Icon
A household name, perhaps a "club"hold name, Dom Pérignon has always been the first name that connotes to prestige champagnes. Named after Dom Pierre Pérignon, a 17th-century Benedictine monk often (mistakenly) credited with "inventing" Champagne, the brand was officially launched in 1921 by Moët & Chandon.
Dom Pérignon only produces vintage Champagne (a single year), which means they do not blend vintages, and do not bottle wines every year, at least publicly. The varietal blend is always Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and the wine matures for at least 7 years on lees before release.
As the wine is fermented in stainless steel, it always reeks of crisp citrus, green apples and mineral freshness. With age, it evolves into richer notes of brioche and toasted almonds. More importantly, Dom Pérignon speaks a distinctive lemon mousse aromas.
A Dom Pérignon starts at HK$1,200ish, but can go up to HK$5,000 for older vintages and prestige cuvées. Try the P2, which is aged for 15+ years with more intensity, and the P3 (if you can find it).
Krug: An Intellectual Luxury
Founded in 1843 by Joseph Krug, a visionary winemaker from Germany who settled in Reims and worked at Champagne Jacquesson before establishing his own house. Although part of LVMH group, it is still by and large run by an actual Krug, Olivier, the sixth generation.
Krug believes winemaking prevails vintages. Or put it this way, every vintage is different in its own way, for better or worse. Hence, the house rule is blend-first. Even the Grande Cuvée is a art piece of over 120 wines from more than 10 vintages.
Unlike most Champagne houses, Krug ferments their base wine in small oak barrels, adding richness, texture and fine tannins into the liquid gold. Then, the wines undergo extended ageing, developing notes of toast, nuts and honeyed complexity.
Since 2016, Krug has started stating the edition number (the vintage) on the label, i.e. 158ème implies 2002 base, 170ème translate to 2014 base. The entry level costs roughly the same as Dom Pérignon, which is around HK$1,500. But again, older vintages and collection range can be as expensive as HK$5,000.
Summary
| Dom Pérignon | Krug | |
| Founded | 1921 | 1843 |
| Location | Reims | Reims |
| Production | Vintage-only | Blend-focused, with vintage cuvees |
| House Style | Precise, Fresh | Rich, Complex, Oxidative Style |
| Fermentation | Stainless Steel | Oak |
| Entry Cuvées | Dom Pérignon Vintage Brut | Krug Grande Cuvée |
| Prestige Cuvées | P2 & P3 | Clos du Mesnil & Clos d'Ambonnay |
