Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle Champagne: House Heritage and Tasting Notes

Credits: Article and images by Ken Gargett @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2024/10/31/laurent-perrier-grand-siecle-champagne-house-heritage-andtasting-notes/

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Tasting Notes

Brut Millésimé 2015 (A$190) – While it may have been a hot year, most competent chef de caves handled it so much better than a year like 2003 (a disaster for almost all). This is a gorgeous bottle. Fragrant with floral notes, spices, lemon blossoms, and backed by crisp, citrussy acidity.

Laurent Perrier Brut vintage 2015 champagne

There is a fine focus here, with touches of stone fruits emerging on the palate. Impressive length, this should be a joy over the next six to eight years. 94.

Brut Millésimé 2012 (A$150) – There is immediate complexity here with delightful spice notes, including a flick of pepper? Citrus flowers, a touch of gingerbread and glacéd lemon notes, hints of oyster shell. Even gentle touches of nutty notes and lemon butter (our host described how her grandmother made lemon butter and it was reminiscent of this wine – my grandmother also made wonderful lemon butter and again, hints of it here.

Laurent Perrier Brut vintage 2012

She also made brilliant gooseberry jam, which I think of every time someone compares Sauvignon Blanc to gooseberries, because her jam could not have been more removed from a glass of Savvy).

This is beautifully crafted, balanced, very long, offers a lingering finish with hints of honey. It seems certain to drink superbly for at least ten to fifteen years. 96.

Heritage (A$190) – The new wine and a most welcome addition to the portfolio. Spices, nuts, lemony notes and florals all on the nose, but the highlight for me is the gorgeous creamy texture the wine exhibits. Almond notes linger, as do peach skin characters. Finely balanced with vibrant acidity and great length, this is clean and fresh, though still quite tight and taut at this early stage.

Laurent Perrier Héritage champagne

Stunning stuff. Ten to twelve years. If anything, this wine shows Houses that choose to ignore the options of blended wines among their elite are doing themselves a disservice (and perhaps we should consider them more for still wines – Penfolds has done it very successfully with their G3, G4 and G5 blends, although they were both very limited and expensive). 95.

Grand Siècle No 26 (A$480) – This is a wine that should be a must for any champagne lover. The prices of top champagnes have risen considerably in recent years, and this line is not immune, but compare the quality with the best of Burgundy and Bordeaux and this becomes amazing value.

Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle No 26

This release is 65% 2012 with the remainder a mix of 2008 (25%) and 2007 (10%). As noted above, 2012 is a great year. Some may question the inclusion of 2007, as it is rarely mentioned when the star vintages of Champagne are discussed, but it was a brilliant year for Chardonnay. 2008 is, as regular readers will be all too aware, my favourite year since 1988. It is that good.

The final blend included 58% Chardonnay. The result of the blend is a wine that is majestic. Refined, elegant, fresh, and yet complex, balanced and intense, there are notes of citrus, spices, a hint of stonefruit and touches of pineapple, with a flicker of peach tart.

A wonderfully creamy texture, this will easily enjoy a decade or two in a good cellar and will stun champagne lovers every time they open one. I have tasted it twice and both times, 100 points without hesitation.

For more information, please visit www.laurent-perrier.com/en/champagnes/grand-siecle/