2008 | Perrier-Jouët | Belle Epoque 6L

A strong Belle Epoque from 2008, this has an almost sultry air about it with deeply spicy glacé stone fruits and fresh bready notes. The palate has sleek, composed and well-weighted fruit and acid balance. Stone fruit pastry flavors run even and hold well into the finish.

Reviews:

• Wine Spectator: This finely knit and lithe Champagne is smoky up front, opening into a lovely range of pastry, glazed apricot, lemon curd and candied ginger notes in the glass. Vibrant acidity drives the satinlike finish. Drink now through 2030.

• Decanter: Perrier Jouët Belle Epoque 2008 reminds me somewhat of the grace of the exceptional 1995, Cellarmaster Hervé Deschamps’ first solo vintage and still one of his best. Though the two vintages 13 years apart share the same grace and class, the 2008 is more mineral, reflecting a quite sunless summer season. Only the return of warmer weather at the start of September imbued the vintage with a freshness of great Chardonnay in tune with the subtly restrained power of Pinot Noir and a soupçon of rounded Meunier – that final little touch making the wine more pleasurable to drink soon, unlike other wines from the Champagne 2008 vintage, which need a lot more time. Chardonnay is from Cramant, Avize, and Mesnil, Pinot Noir from Ay and Ambonnay in the Montagne de Reims, and Pinot Meunier from Dizy. Shimmering pale gold with green lights, radiant clarity; persistent tiny bubbles: riot of white flowers scents, hawthorn, then more stone-fruit than citrus, reine claude (greengage) and elderflower. Vibrant mouthfeel, invigorating, expansive – perfect with saline fruits de mer.

Producer Information

Champagne Perrier-Jouët is a Champagne house based in Épernay, founded in 1811. The wines are typically floral and elegant. The house places emphasis on Chardonnay in relation to this house style. However the core Grand Brut bottling comprises 40 percent Pinot Noir, the same of Pinot Meunier and 20 percent Chardonnay. Dosage is 8 to 10 grams per liter of sugar. The Blanc de Blancs is 100 percent Chardonnay and 8g/l dosage. The Blason (coat of arms) range is completed by the Blason Rosé. This features 50 percent Pinot Noir and 25 percent each of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, with dosage as for the Grand Brut. 10 to 15 percent of the Pinot Noir is still red wine. All three of these wines feature up to 15 percent reserve wines (i.e. older than the current vintage). The famous Belle Époque champagne is a deluxe vintage cuvée. It is produced only in the best years, with around 30 wines being made to date. A 45 percent component of Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims is carefully selected for subtlety to complement the Chardonnay (50 percent) from the Grand Crus of Cramant and Avize. Pinot Meunier contributes just 5 percent. The Belle Époque Rosé reverses the proportions of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. 11 percent of the Pinot Noir is still red wine. Belle Époque Blanc de Blancs is the rarest bottling in terms of production volumes (40,000 bottles or less). It is sourced from two of the best parcels of Chardonnay. These three wines are all aged for at least six years before release with a dosage at 8 g/l. The vineyards of Perrier-Jouët encompass 65 hectares (161 acres), with each plot being picked and vinified separately before being blended into its eventual cuvée. The blend is chosen by Séverine Frerson, the eighth cellar master in two centuries.

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