In April 2025, a momentous vertical tasting of Dom Ruinart brought together a select group of Finnish wine enthusiasts, alongside Champagne collector Henri Kujala and the house’s esteemed chef de cave, Frédéric Panaïotis. This exceptional gathering featured nearly complete vintages of the prestigious cuvée, a rare event as only two of the 29 vintages— the inaugural 1959 and the 1983—were absent.
The tasting, hosted in Helsinki, was significant enough to draw Panaïotis from Reims, who recognized the uniqueness of the occasion. His participation enriched the experience, allowing attendees to engage deeply with the storied history of Dom Ruinart, culminating in a memorable and educational evening. Tragically, this would be the last time many would see Panaïotis, who passed away in June 2025 during a diving accident.
Throughout the evening, each vintage revealed its narrative, and reflections on Panaïotis’s impactful contributions to the world of Champagne underscored the event’s emotional resonance. His legacy was marked by a commitment to purity and elegance in Dom Ruinart’s wines, demonstrating that the greatest expressions of Dom Ruinart are still maturing in the cellars—all thanks to his stewardship.
Beyond Panaïotis’s leadership, the history of Dom Ruinart is enriched by its origins. Founded in 1729, the cuvée Dom Ruinart first emerged in 1959, an era when prestige cuvées began gaining popularity. Under the guidance of Bertrand Mure, the house’s Chardonnay-centric identity was established, yielding a unique blend that drew from both Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims.
Under Panaïotis, Dom Ruinart has enjoyed transformative success, marked notably by the significant upgrades in production practices. These adjustments included meticulous management of malolactic fermentation and the timing of grape harvests, resulting in wines characterized by enhanced clarity and precision. One of his groundbreaking initiatives involved switching to cork closures for the first tirage, notably for the 2010 vintage, which garnered exceptional acclaim.
During the tasting, various vintages were explored, showcasing the evolution of Dom Ruinart over generations. Each bottle recounted its story, illustrating the impact of years on both flavor and character, with the older vintages bearing witness to Champagne’s rich heritage.
As the wine enthusiasts savored the lighter yet intensely focused 2013 Dom Ruinart, they also contrasted it with the opulent and mature 1998 vintage showing the deep complexities achieved over its aging. The tasting resonated deeply, not just for its remarkable wines but for the legacy of dedication embodied by Panaïotis—a commitment to continuity that would carry forward under the new stewardship of Caroline Fiot.
The event was not merely an exploration of exquisite Champagne but a tribute to the artistry behind it, an homage to the past, and a look forward to a promising future, reaffirming the significance of Dom Ruinart in the pantheon of great wines.