Singapore Airlines to serve Cristal 2015 champagne in Suites and First Class

While Dom Perignon may no longer be in the Singapore Airlines stable (having become an Emirates exclusive in November 2022), Suites and First Class passengers are far from deprived, with three excellent champagnes poured throughout 2024 including Krug Grand Cuvee and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne.

But the airline always gives its passengers a special treat around Christmastime. Last year, Krug 2004 and Krug Rose made an appearance in December, and this year, there’s some big news for oenophiles, as Singapore Airlines announces the addition of Cristal 2015 to its line-up. 

Singapore Airlines to serve Cristal 2015 in Suites and First Class

Singapore Airlines has revealed that from 1 December 2024, it will become the world’s only airline to serve Cristal 2015 champagne onboard, following an exclusive agreement with the French champagne house Louis Roederer. 

Crafted by cellar master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, Cristal 2015 blends 40% Chardonnay and 60% Pinot Noir, sourced from 45 vineyard plots across Louis Roederer’s seven Grands Crus. It exemplifies meticulous attention to detail, from a bespoke, sustainable viticulture approach of Louis Roederer’s exceptional Grand Cru vineyards to the artful blending and extended cellar ageing that gives the wine its depth and elegance.

-Singapore Airlines

Cristal 2015 will initially be available on flights between Singapore and the following destinations: 

• Delhi
• Hong Kong
• London
• Los Angeles
• Paris
• Shanghai
• Sydney
• Tokyo

From 1 March 2025, the champagne will then be rotated to other Suites and First Class routes on a three-month rotational basis, namely:

• Auckland
• Beijing
• Frankfurt
• Jakarta
• Melbourne
• Mumbai
• New York JFK
• Zurich

I asked Singapore Airlines how many bottles would be uplifted per flight, and received the following response.

As expected, they wouldn’t go into specifics, but based on past experience with other “guest champagnes”, it can be as little as one bottle in each direction. If you happen to be on one of the selected routes, I’d highly recommend requesting for this as soon as you board!

How good is Cristal 2015?

Cristal was originally created for Tsar Alexander II in 1876, and is probably one of those brands you’ve heard of, even if you’re not big on wine. It’s been name dropped by Jay-Z (before he went on to create his own Ace of Spades brand), Kanye West, 50 Cent and Mos Def, to name a few.

Needless to say, Cristal 2015 comes highly-rated, with a price tag to match. A bottle in Singapore would cost you S$462, and even though Singapore Airlines is obviously not paying retail price, it’s still going to leave quite the dent. 

Says Singapore Airlines wine consultant Jeannie Cho Lee:

Its depth and impressive quality from the meticulous ageing process results in a champagne with intricate and intense flavours of toasted pinenuts, crushed stones, and white flowers, coupled with a crescendo of refined flavours and a lingering, persistent finish. The quality of this wine remains prominent even at 36,000 feet, making it the perfect addition for SIA’s Suites and First Class customers.

Here’s a sampling of expert reviews.

James Suckling (97/100): “For the warm and dry vintage this has tremendous freshness and elegance. The complex nose of citrus blossom, mint, lemon and lime zest opens up slowly as this aerates in the glass. The wine’s ample structure is still quite firm, which is a vintage characteristic, the mousse very fine but also very lively for an eight-year-old champagne.”

Decanter (95/100): “An open and inviting nose references cream, oatmeal and Amalfi lemon with the slightest edge of smoke. The palate immediately strikes with a mouthwatering lemon ripeness and a juicy, mouthfilling generosity reminiscent of yellow plum. It stays true to the trademark sleekness of Cristal and speaks of the concentration of 2015.”

Louis Roederer provides the following tasting notes:

🍾 Cristal 2015

A perfect combination of softness and concentration, matched by a masterful maturity, Cristal 2015 delivers intense and delicious aromas with a superb energy and a magical vibration. This is a timeless champagne with a chalky temperament, sustained by its soils, freed from the sunny character of the vintage. The nose begins with hints of yellow fruit, toasted almonds and wheat from the Chardonnay, combined with the juicy red fruit of the Pinot Noir. Then comes the great surge of energy from the wineʼs structure, a vibratory intensity that transforms into a gentle caress, a silky texture interwoven with fine flavours of candied citrus and iodised spices. The vintageʼs chalky character thus bursts forth in a bracing, vertical effervescence, with an insistent, precise and finely honed freshness. The finish is underpinned by subtle oaky, sappy and saline notes, which creates the ultimate sensation of delicacy and concentration. Cristal 2015 remains a wine of supreme balance and measure, resonating from the chalky nature of its soils rather than the sunny character of its vintage. A perfect Cristal, intensely of the 2015 vintage, with enormous ageing potential…

What other champagnes will be served?

Singapore Airlines currently serves three champagnes in its First Class cabins: two fixed, and one rotating option.

However, this month is special as the regular 2012 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Brut has been swapped out for a 2009 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Brut Rose, resulting in the following line-up:

• Krug Grand Cuvee
• 2009 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Brut Rose
• 2007 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires

I asked Singapore Airlines what the line up will be for December, and got the following reply.

To see what you can look forward to on your upcoming light, you can view the inflight menu 10 days before departure. 

Only available in the skies!

While Singapore Airlines may be pouring three champagnes in the air, on the ground you’ll be limited to “just” one- though it’s hardly a bad choice.

Visitors to The Private Room, the exclusive lounge for First and Suites Class passengers at Changi Airport Terminal 3, will enjoy 2012 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne.

You can, of course, request the champagnes from the First Class lounge (2016 Champagne Geoffroy Empreinte Millesime or Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs), or Business Class lounge (Piper Heidsieck Essentiel Extra-Brut NV), though something tells me you’ll want to save your alcohol allowance for later!

For a full review of The Private Room experience, refer to the post below.

Review: Singapore Airlines The Private Room (2023)

Conclusion

Singapore Airlines has unveiled a big treat for its Suites and First Class customers, with the highly acclaimed Cristal 2015 set to be poured from December 2024 onwards. 

This could very well be the most expensive champagne ever served on SIA (though I’ll let you fact check me on that), and while price is no guarantee of quality, it’s safe to say you won’t be disappointed.