In my series “If Wine Were a Person” every wine becomes a living character. The idea? To experience wines in a way that’s both playful and deeply insightful. Today’s spotlight: Dom Pérignon Vintage 1993 from Moët & Chandon, Champagne.

Max Kaindl, March 10, 2025
Reading time about 3 minutes

Dom Pérignon Vintage 1993

He doesn’t just enter a room—he owns it. A man in his late fifties, whose presence is felt before he even arrives. Not a flamboyant showman, but someone who commands attention through quiet confidence. He’s no longer a young rebel. No, he’s the seasoned gentleman who doesn’t erase his past but wears it with effortless grace in every fold of his perfectly tailored tuxedo.

His hair? Dark, streaked with silver, combed back with precision—except for a few strands left untamed, where nonchalance meets discipline. His skin? Weathered by life, yet firm, almost leather-like, with a subtle glow that speaks of experience, not age.

He doesn’t speak loudly—his voice is low, deliberate, carrying weight. There’s a hint of smokiness, no excessive silkiness, just a quiet depth that makes room for nuance. And when he speaks, you listen—not because he demands it, but because you want to.

His style is no random mix of trends—it’s intentional perfection. The suit? Dark, custom-tailored, structured shoulders, fabric with just enough weight to fall smoothly. No flashy accessories, just the epitome of understatement. His watch? A timeless classic, nothing modern, nothing ostentatious—just history wrapped around his wrist. Those who recognize it know it’s rarer than it seems at first glance.

His hands reveal the years. Strong fingers, veins subtly visible—not youthful, but still firm in their grip. He shakes hands with measured intent, never too firm, but always with quiet assurance. His touch? A whisper of leather, perhaps a trace of dried orange peel and warm wood. His movements are deliberate, unhurried. He doesn’t need abrupt gestures to command attention—his mere presence draws eyes.

His leisure? He collects—not for prestige, but for meaning. Art, yes, but not the obvious pieces. He’s drawn to the corners of the market few others notice—old photographs, forgotten sketches of a great master, a rare book with handwritten notes in the margins.

His palate? Trained, but never pretentious. He appreciates the value of a perfectly aged bottle, yet isn’t seduced by flashy labels. He seeks out quiet masterpieces—perhaps a Montrachet from the finest vineyards, but only if it has character, not just perfection.

What has time done to him? It hasn’t worn him down; it has defined him. Once a charming hedonist, now a man of substance. The sharper edges have been polished, the volume turned down, but the intensity has only grown. His words land with precision, his gaze is sharper. He’s not the man who opens up easily to just anyone. No, he’s someone you have to know to truly understand.
Once you’ve met him, you won’t forget him. And if you ever let him go, you’ll spend years wondering why you ever did.

Pictures: © The Art of Riesling – Maximilian Kaindl

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