Perrier-Jouët : Belle Epoque 2012

The freshness and refinement of a rare and iconic champagne by Perrier-Jouët 

The estate

The Perrier-Jouet Champagne House was founded in 1811 by Pierre Perrier and his wife, Adèle Jouët. Produced from exceptional Champagne wine terroirs (Ay, Mailly-Champagne, Avize and Cramant), the house’s cuvées are renowned for their unique style, which mixes aromatic richness, sophistication and subtlety. Perrier-Jouët became Queen Victoria’s official champagne in 1861, then that of the French Imperial Court.

Owned by the Champagne company, GH Mumm, since 1959, the Perrier-Jouët House particularly stands out through the iconic bottle of its prestigious cuvée "Belle Époque", devised by Émile Gallé in 1969.

The wine

Belle Époque by Perrier-Jouët is an iconic champagne, the first cuvée to be adorned with white Japanese anemone flowers, a motif created for the champagne house in 1902 by Émile Gallé, a master of Art Nouveau.

With less than 30 vintages having been produced to date, the very rare Belle Époque 2012 by Perrier-Jouët is the perfect expression of an exceptional vineyard and vintage. This champagne is made from Pinot Noir from the northern part of the Reims Mountain, Chardonnay from Cramant and Avize, two iconic Grand crus, and from Pinot Noir from Dizy.

The vintage

A mild winter preceded a cool and slightly rainy spring, leading to late flowering. The hot and sunny conditions from mid-July to the end of the harvests encouraged the grapes to ripen well and fostered a perfect balance between sugar and acidity.

Vinification and ageing

This vintage champagne, which dosage is 8g/litre, enjoys a minimum of 6 years of ageing in the house’s chalk cellars.

The blend

Belle Époque 2012 by Perrier-Jouët is made from a blend of Chardonnay (50%), Pinot Noir (45%) and Pinot Meunier (5%).

The tasting

Colour

The wine is a beautiful, crystal-clear golden colour adorned with subtle green highlights.

Nose

The nose elegantly combines flavourful floral (white flowers), fruity (white peach, pear, lemon) and honeyed fragrances.

Palate

The palate seduces with its freshness, sophistication and harmony. The finish is long and persistent.

Food and wine pairings

This champagne goes perfectly with fish (striped bass), a dish accompanied with snow peas or even a plum-based dessert.

Serving

For an optimal tasting, serve at around 12°C.