Singapore Airlines now serving Piper-Heidsieck Brut Vintage 2014 in Business Class

Back in November 2021, Singapore Airlines introduced a vintage champagne in Business Class with Piper-Heidsieck Brut Vintage 2012. This replaced the decidedly unpopular (in my book at least) Laurent Perrier Brut, and by all accounts was very well-received. 

However, this pour subsequently made way for other labels like Charles Heidsieck and Henriot. Piper-Heidsieck did eventually make a return, but in the form of NV Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel Extra Brut.

Well, Singapore Airlines is bringing the good stuff back once again!

Piper-Heidsieck 2014 now served in Business Class

From 6 January 2024, Singapore Airlines is serving Piper-Heidsieck Vintage 2014 in its Business Class cabins on all routes (except Kuala Lumpur, Medan and Penang, where champagne is not loaded).

Champagne is celebrated the world over and Piper-Heidsieck is one of the most recognizable and famous Houses of the region. As with most Houses, the majority of production is non-vintage. However, they also make a small quantity of highly prized vintage champagne in the best years that reflects the growing conditions of a single season. This wine made by chef de cave Regis Camus is a blend of 52% Pinot Noir and 48% Chardonnay sourced from approximately 18 Grand and Premier Cru sites. An excellent champagne from a highly rated vintage. -Singapore Airlines

The 2014 vintage scores 94 Points on Wine Enthusiast, one point more than the 2012 vintage previously served (for the benefit of all you competitive Asian parents out there). 

This blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, aged at least five years on lees, has a dosage of 7g per litre. That makes it slightly sweeter than the Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel (6g per litre) it replaces, though one would hardly consider it saccharine. 

Some other tidbits, courtesy of the factsheet:

As always, I turned to Gary Low (Co-Founder of Vinoluxus and Head Sommelier to some of Asia’s best restaurants) for his take on the 2014 vintage:

Piper has been steadily improving its quality from the yesteryears of supermarket offerings. It’s actually more savoury and tastes more upmarket. It’s a fantastic complement to the J experience and one to look forward to the next time in the skies.

I’ll be curious if the SilverKris Lounge in Singapore is also upgraded to the same offering, because unless I’m recalling this incorrectly, the last time SIA served vintage Piper-Heidsieck in the air, the lounge offering remained the standard non-vintage version. If you’re passing through in the next few weeks, do give us an update!

Krug Grande Cuvee is back in First Class

As I previously wrote about back in November 2023, reports that Singapore Airlines had stopped serving Krug in First Class were somewhat misleading. While the venerable brand was absent for a few weeks, it made a return in mid-December with the critically-acclaimed Krug 2004. During the Christmas period (which SIA defines as 24-26 December), Krug Rose also made an appearance for some extra festive cheer. 

Krug Grande Cuvee has been restored from 1 January 2024, with the following three options now available on all flights (even the blink-and-you’ll-miss it Jakarta service):

Charles Heidsieck will then be replaced by Extra Brut ‘VP’ Grand Cru by Champagne Egly-Ouriet in February and March 2024.

Subsequently, the airline’s “Celebration of Champagne” programme will end, and Suites and First Class passengers will be reduced to “just” two options (Taittinger Comtes de Champagne and Krug Grand Cuvee).

Conclusion

Singapore Airlines Business Class passengers can now enjoy a vintage champagne on all its routes in the form of Piper-Heidsieck Brut Vintage 2014. 

It’s not known how long this option will be available — rotation is to be expected in the airline industry, given supply constraints and cost considerations — but like all good things, enjoy it while it lasts.

How are you finding the 2014 Piper-Heidsieck?