When I saw the first images of the new Dom Pérignon edition, I had to take a second look. This kaleidoscope-like pattern, this shimmer of shifted coats of arms in electric blue and violet, you don't see that on a champagne bottle every day. It's been on shelves since October 1st: the collaboration between Dom Pérignon and Damien Hirst, one of Britain's most well known and controversial artists. Time for me to sort out my thoughts on it.
Who is Damien Hirst, anyway?
For anyone not quite as familiar with contemporary art as I am with champagne: Hirst was born in Bristol in 1965 and is considered one of the defining figures of the so-called "Young British Artists." He's best known for his Spot Paintings (canvases covered in colorful dots), his Spin Paintings (created using rotating canvases), and the Kaleidoscope Paintings that now shape the Dom Pérignon label as well. Back in 1988, he curated the legendary exhibition "Freeze," which kicked off his career. In other words: not some unknown name, but someone with a very distinct, often provocative visual language.
The Label: More Than Just a Pretty Face
What fascinates me most about this edition is the idea behind the design. The historic Dom Pérignon coat of arms doesn't simply disappear, it multiplies. It layers, it shifts, as if you were looking through an actual kaleidoscope. For the Vintage 2018, Hirst chose a deep, almost electric blue with violet, which he's said represents infinity. For the Rosé Vintage 2010, things get warmer: pink and violet meant to reflect the character of the Pinot Noir.
I think that's a clever solution. Instead of hiding or painting over the brand's signature, Hirst plays with it, lets it reflect itself. That fits his artistic approach, pattern, repetition, optical illusion, and yet it doesn't feel forced.
A Long List of Big Names
What puts this collaboration into perspective for me: this isn't the first time Dom Pérignon has done something like this. Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Lynch, and most recently in 2025, Takashi Murakami. The list of artists who've taken a crack at this house is impressive. Hirst himself is said to have called the request an immediate yes, partly because it places him in such company. I get that. Knowing which circle you're joining is already a kind of knighthood in the art world.
And What About the Wine Inside?
Now for what actually matters most to me as a champagne enthusiast: what's actually in the bottle? And here, let's be honest, it's the same wine as in the regular bottling. Only the label and gift box are new. That might disappoint some who were hoping for a completely new Cuvée, but I actually find it consistent. Dom Pérignon isn't selling a new wine here, but a new shell for a wine that can speak for itself.
The Vintage 2018 is considered a year with nearly ideal weather conditions and early ripeness. From what I've read, and what Chef de Cave Vincent Chaperon also emphasizes: minerality, fruit, and a noticeable salinity, along with a depth on the palate that's said to be remarkable for a still fairly young vintage. The Rosé 2010, on the other hand, sounds like a completely different character: darker, more closed off, with a Pinot Noir that comes across as unusually dense and powerful. Exactly the kind of rosé I'd imagine still needs time in the glass to really open up.
My Honest Take
I go back and forth on artist editions like this. On one hand, the wine itself doesn't change, you're essentially paying for design and limited availability. On the other hand, I totally understand the appeal. Champagne and art have always had a close relationship, both thrive on craftsmanship, vision, and a certain excess of beauty that doesn't need to serve any practical purpose beyond bringing joy.
Personally, the Rosé 2010 would be the more exciting object of desire for me, not because of the bottle, but because of the vintage. But I'll admit: the label alone would already make me curious enough to pull a cork. Whether I'd actually buy a bottle comes down, as always, to the price, and as is typical for editions like this, it surely won't be a bargain. But as an art object with champagne inside? There's definitely something to that.