Belle Epoque 2012 and the rediscovery of an antique bottle

Belle Epoque 2012 Perrier-Jouët is a confirmation of its style: harmonious freshness, an elegant floral profile and a generous body that is both intense and fine.

We have just wound up our panorama of the cuvée de prestige of the by now legendary vintage 2008 and already many Maisons are back again on the starting blocks to launch their vintage 2012 on the market. It was another year that began under the worst conditions – due to cold and little rain, frost and hail at the end of spring – which lowered yield, especially in certain zones, but set the stage for phenomenal quality when harvest came, with the grapes maintaining their acidity while at the same time having an excellent sugar content.

As for the debut of 2012, Maison Perrier-Jouët has just presented its most iconic Champagne, the cuvée Belle Epoque, with its bottle that is one of the most recognizable in the world. Since its foundation in 1811, art and nature have been an integral part of the vision of this “boutique Maison”. The floral motif designed by Emile Gallé in 1902 has also been reinterpreted as the modern visual image in the #ArtOfTheWild and since 1969 has made the cuvée de prestige Belle Epoque unique. Vintage 2012 is a confirmation of its DNA: harmonious freshness, elegant floral profile and a generous body that is both intense and fine. Its secret for sure stems from the complexity of the Grand Cru Chardonnay grapes that with their refinedness uphold the intensity of the Pinot Noir, to reiterate with every Belle Epoque the hedonistic style of the Art du Millesime.

Together with this new creation, Maison Perrier-Jouët presented another important novelty: a new bottle shape for their non-vintage Champagne. It is a project that, as is often the case, has its roots in the past and was inspired by the shape of the bottle used for their Blason de France, the Maison’s first, authentic cuvée de prestige that began with the 1955 harvest, which was used up until the early 1990s. With the arrival of Belle Epoque, this Champagne was forgotten and with it its splendid bottle with its exclusive shape that was less practical and more minimalist than the classic Champagne bottle. It was distinguished by its long neck and rounded shoulder that made the shape softer. The design of the new bottle seeks to symbolize the reaffirmation of Perrier-Jouët’s own identity. Blason Rosé and the Blanc de Blancs have already been presented in Italy while the main non-vintage wine, Grand Brut, should arrive for Christmas.

Belle Epoque 2012

96/100 – 150€

A blend of Chardonnay (50%) from the Grand Cru villages of Cramant and Avize, Pinot Noir (45%) from Montagne de Reims and inevitable hint of Pinot Meunier (5%). The wine is made only in stainless steel with malolactic fermentation and after sitting on the lees for six years it is given a brut dosage of 8g/l.

The bouquet has delicate notes of elder and linden flowers, nuances of white tea and chamomile and an enticing veil of fresh almond and white peach. The mouthfeel is delicate and at the same time has a driving vitality along with an energy that expresses itself with a crescendo of apple and acacia honey nuances wonderfully balanced by an intense citrus streak. The dialectic freshness and fullness of the fruit is exalted by the salinity while the finish is creamy, persistent and lively.

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