2012
BELLE ÉPOQUE BRUT 1.5L
Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque is a true icon — a rare and elegant champagne that celebrates the art of vintage and the excellence of the Perrier-Jouët vineyard.HERVÉ DESCHAMPS - Chef de caves de la Maison Perrier-Jouët
The eyeA pale, translucent gold, with radiant clarity and subtle glints of apple green.
The noseDistinctive notes of white flowers combine with white peaches, crisp pears and lemon.
The palateFreshness prevails, releasing a beautiful harmony.
A masterpiece of blending
Though Maison Perrier-Jouët is famed for its Chardonnay vineyards, it also possesses exceptional plots of Pinot Noir – a fact magnificently demonstrated by Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque, which combines the two grape varieties in almost equal proportions. This outstanding vintage cuvée is also a supreme example of the art of blending in the Perrier-Jouët style, with Pinot Noir grapes from the north of the Montagne de Reims being used, not for their power, but in order to support, accompany and enhance the delicate structure of Chardonnay from the celebrated Grand Cru villages of Cramant and Avize. A small quantity of Pinot Meunier grapes from Dizy perfects the balance between the two.
The vintage
A mild winter was followed by a cool, wet spring which resulted in the late blooming of the vines between 16th and 21st June 2012. The summer was hot and bathed in sunshine from mid-July all the way until the end of the harvest, favouring the maturity of the grapes. The rain only returned at the end of the harvest period. These excellent conditions produced an ideal balance between sugar and acidity, resulting in a wine of exceptional harmony, with great energy, character and potential.