Revealing the quintessence of Chardonnay
From vineyard to cellar, a Perrier-Jouët champagne is a unique alchemy of soil, climate and savoir-faire, perfected over more than two centuries.
More than a method, Perrier-Jouët’s savoir-faire is a philosophy of patience, precision and respect for nature.
The Perrier-Jouët’s vineyard
A “Golden Triangle” in the heart of Champagne
It all starts with the terroir – and the Perrier-Jouët vineyard is among the finest in the Champagne region, defined by a “Golden Triangle” of Grand Cru villages.
The founding family acquired exceptional vineyard plots in the Grand Cru villages of Cramant, Chouilly and Avize, in the Côte des Blancs, where chalk soils and gentle slopes create ideal conditions for Chardonnay.
They are complemented by two further Grands Crus: Mailly-Champagne in the Montagne de Reims and Aÿ in the Vallée de la Marne, which produce Pinot Noir grapes for the House’s brut and rosé champagnes.
The founding family acquired exceptional vineyard plots in the Grand Cru villages of Cramant, Chouilly and Avize, in the Côte des Blancs, where chalk soils and gentle slopes create ideal conditions for Chardonnay.
They are complemented by two further Grands Crus: Mailly-Champagne in the Montagne de Reims and Aÿ in the Vallée de la Marne, which produce Pinot Noir grapes for the House’s brut and rosé champagnes.
What is Echelle des Crus?
Established in 1911, the Echelle des Crus scale defined the value of the grapes produced around a particular village based on the quality of its soil and terroir. The Champagne AOC contains 319 villages, which are classed, in ascending order of quality, as Cru, Premier Cru and Grand Cru. There are just 17 Grand Cru villages, valued at 100%. With a 99.2% ranking overall, Maison Perrier-Jouët possesses one of the most admired vineyards in Champagne.
Revealing the quintessence of Chardonnay
Since 1811, Maison Perrier-Jouët has been synonymous with the Chardonnay grape variety, which was chosen by the founders as their signature. Since then, exceptional continuity – with only eight Cellar Masters in over 200 years – has enabled the House to acquire unique expertise in revealing all the facets of Chardonnay.
Selecting the finest crus
Cellar Master Séverine Frerson uses her in-depth knowledge of the terroir to select those crus which will best express, not only the personality of each individual cuvée, but also the intricate floral style of Maison Perrier-Jouët.
This process requires remarkable precision, since each vineyard plot has its own specific conditions, resulting in subtle nuances in its wines. The Chardonnay grapes cultivated in Cramant, for example, yield floral notes, while those produced in the neighbouring Grand Cru village of Avize offer more minerality, and those of nearby Chouilly a certain chalkiness.
This process requires remarkable precision, since each vineyard plot has its own specific conditions, resulting in subtle nuances in its wines. The Chardonnay grapes cultivated in Cramant, for example, yield floral notes, while those produced in the neighbouring Grand Cru village of Avize offer more minerality, and those of nearby Chouilly a certain chalkiness.
The Art of assemblage
After harvest, the grapes are pressed and, with the addition of natural yeast, their juice is transformed into still wine. It is then that assemblage – blending – can begin, a painstaking process requiring countless intricate adjustments to achieve the perfect result.
For Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut, Séverine Frerson selects as many as 50 different crus from across the entire Champagne region, expertly blending each cru, as well as a percentage of reserve wines, to replicate the richness, balance and harmony of this classic cuvée year after year.
For Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut, Séverine Frerson selects as many as 50 different crus from across the entire Champagne region, expertly blending each cru, as well as a percentage of reserve wines, to replicate the richness, balance and harmony of this classic cuvée year after year.
Jewel-like precision
For the Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque vintage cuvée, meanwhile, the Cellar Master specifically selects Pinot Noir grapes from Verzy and Mailly-Champagne in the north of the Montagne de Reims. Here, chalky soils produce wines whose finesse enhances, rather than overwhelms, the delicate floral notes of Chardonnay from Grand Cru terroirs in the Côte des Blancs.
Such a meticulous approach results in the subtlety and elegance of Perrier-Jouët champagnes, which are faceted and polished with jewel-like precision.
Such a meticulous approach results in the subtlety and elegance of Perrier-Jouët champagnes, which are faceted and polished with jewel-like precision.
Time: the “fourth grape variety” of Maison Perrier-Jouët
After the blend has rested in the cellars for several months, the prise de mousse – the secondary fermentation that creates champagne’s signature bubbles – begins. This stage is initiated by the addition of a dosage liqueur, a blend of sugar, still wine and yeast, which also encourages the development of the wine’s delicate secondary aromas. To ensure each cuvée expresses its distinctive character, Cellar Master Séverine Frerson tailors the dosage liqueur individually, drawing primarily on Grand Cru Chardonnay reserve wines. For the Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque collection, the dosage is refined for each vintage.
The wines are then aged in the House’s cellars for a minimum of three years for the classic cuvées and six years for the vintage cuvé – well beyond the requirements of the Champagne appellation. This extended maturation allows the wines to develop their floral complexity, finesse and richness of texture. It is for this reason that Séverine Frerson describes time as the Maison’s “fourth grape variety.”
The wines are then aged in the House’s cellars for a minimum of three years for the classic cuvées and six years for the vintage cuvé – well beyond the requirements of the Champagne appellation. This extended maturation allows the wines to develop their floral complexity, finesse and richness of texture. It is for this reason that Séverine Frerson describes time as the Maison’s “fourth grape variety.”
Maison Perrier-Jouët’s two champagne collections each represent a distinct yet complementary dimension of its savoir-faire.
The classic collection
The classic collection – Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut, Perrier-Jouët Blanc de Blancs and Perrier-Jouët Blason Rosé – showcases Perrier-Jouët’s mastery of non-vintage champagnes. The Cellar Master blends the wines of the year with a proportion of reserve wines in order to ensure absolute consistency year after year. These timelessly elegant champagnes are the enduring expression of the intricate floral style of Maison Perrier-Jouët.
The Belle Epoque collection
The Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque collection is a testament to the House’s art of vintage. These rare and precious champagnes are produced in very limited quantities and only in years of near-perfect conditions. A Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque cuvée is thus the Cellar Master’s one-off interpretation of a single, exceptional year, crafted from grapes from the House’s finest vineyards. Noted for their potential for ageing, these uniquely complex and nuanced champagnes, which each reveal a distinct expression of the Chardonnay grape, are the ultimate expression of the style and savoir-faire of Maison Perrier-Jouët.