Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle Nº25 Champagne

Product Information:

A hint of smoky charm and a serious fervour to the fruit - rich & ripe lemon sherbet, yellow fruits and ripe pear and some hay rusticity. Chardonnay influence is strong at 60% and the red fruits are quite subdued for the moment. Racy freshness on the palate, acidity and gentle mousse, softened from extended maturation on lees. Ethereal lightness and delicacy to finish and a wash of salinity and dosage, the 7 g/l sugar perfectly integrated–rounded and seamless. Impressive.

To achieve 'the perfect year' Laurent Perrier seeks freshness, structure, and finesse from the finest vintages, the result is Grand Siecle. The Nº25 release is an assemblage of vintage years the blend is created from 2008 (65%), 2007 (25%) and 2006 (10%). This features the highest percentage of Chardonnay at 60% all from a selection of 9 Grand Crus.

2008 has notable structure with high quality Chardonnays and Pinots Noirs revealing an outstanding aromatic richness. 2007 vintage imparts freshness, the Chardonnays are complex with aromas of white fruits and citrus and the Pinots Noirs open and fruity with a dominance of yellow fruit. 2006 is the finesse with rich, complex Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

Grand Siècle is a Prestige Cuvée that is a unique concept. It is the only Cuvée de Prestige in Champagne based on the blend and not on the vintage. Most Champagne houses consider vintage to be synonymous with excellence for Prestige Cuvées. Quite the opposite for Laurent Perrier, their belief is that the art of blending can allow them to create what nature will never give us: the perfect year.

Maker:

In 1812, André-Michel Pierlot, a former cooper and bottler from Chigny-les-Roses, established himself as a champagne merchant in Tours-sur-Marne, founding what would become Maison Laurent-Perrier. This Grand Cru village, strategically located at the intersection of three key vineyards, provided fertile ground for his enterprise. Pierlot passed the company to his son, Alphonse, who, lacking heirs, entrusted it to cellar master Eugène Laurent. After Laurent's untimely death in 1887, his widow, Mathilde-Emilie Perrier, took charge, introducing her "Grand Vin Sans Sucre" in 1889, catering to evolving tastes. In 1925, Eugénie-Hortense Laurent succeeded her mother but sold the estate in 1939.

Marie-Louise de Nonancourt acquired Domaine Laurent-Perrier during World War II. Her son Bernard, who joined the Resistance, returned to lead the company at just 28 after the war, transforming it into an industry innovator over four decades. Under his guidance, Laurent-Perrier became synonymous with freshness, elegance, and purity, exporting its champagnes to over 160 countries.

The company transitioned to a Management Board structure in 1999, spearheaded by Bernard and his daughters, ensuring a legacy of high standards and independence. With Michel Fauconnet as Cellar Master since 2004, the House maintains its commitment to quality, while Lucie Pereyre de Nonancourt joined in 2019, representing Grand Siècle and furthering Laurent-Perrier's innovative spirit

Philosophy: 
Its house style is known for its finesse and elegance, based around an emphasis on the Chardonnay variety in all but the rosé wines. Chardonnay accounts for 55 percent of the blend in La Cuvée (the renamed Brut Non-Vintage). By blending traditional Champagne practices with innovative winemaking techniques, the House produces a range of unique wines, each with its own story. Key to this style is the use of stainless steel vats, allowing for low-temperature fermentation that preserves the wine's freshness and aromatic complexity. The meticulous vinification process involves selecting the best grapes from renowned vineyards, including 17 Grands Crus and 42 Premiers Crus.

Each batch is vinified separately, enabling the Cellar Master to create harmonious blends that capture the essence of Laurent-Perrier. This dedication to quality is further reflected in their long ageing process, ensuring that each Cuvée is ready to enjoy upon release. Laurent-Perrier is also a pioneer in low-dosage wines, launching the "Grand Vin Sans Sucre" in 1889 and later the Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut in 1981. The House continues to lead with innovations like the Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature, reinforcing its commitment to producing champagnes that celebrate the balance between tradition and modernity.

Nose - Apple Skin, Pie Crust, Flowers
Incredible aromas of apple skin, pie crust, praline and flowers. So young in the nose.

Palate - Fleshy Core, Concentrated Pear, Buttery Pastry
Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and incisive, with a fleshy core of fruit girdled by racy acids and animated by a pretty pinpoint mousse.

Finish - Orange Oil, Confit Citrus, Racy Acids
Seamless and harmonious, underlying streak of minerally smoke and brine. Concluding with a long, penetrating finish.

Incredible aromas of apple skin, pie crust, praline and flowers. So young in the nose. Full-bodied with super-fine tannins. It’s tight and refined, yet structured and intense. Really long and beautiful. Still shy. Wonderful finish. 12 years on its lees before disgorging. Three vintages in the blend – 2008 (65%), 2007 (25%) and 2006 (10%). 60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir. It’s the highest percentage of chardonnay ever. – James Suckling, 99 Points

A blend of the 2008, 2007 and 2006 vintages, with fully 55% deriving from 2008, Laurent-Perrier's NV Brut Grand Siècle #25 is coming into its own today, bursting from the glass with scents of nectarine, pear, orange oil and confit citrus mingled with notions of buttery pastry, brioche, iodine, dried white flowers and freshly baked bread. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and incisive, with a fleshy core of fruit girdled by racy acids and animated by a pretty pinpoint mousse, it's seamless and harmonious, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate, 97 Points.

The newest release of Grand Siècle is based upon the superb and structured 2008 vintage (65% of the blend), along with the vivacious 2007 vintage (25%), and the creamy, luxurious 2006 (10%). The final blend is 60% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs and 40% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims. The result at this stage exhibits its Chardonnay character, with toasty notes of ripe pear and spice on the nose and a creamy, silky texture and an edge of citrus. Although elegant and refined at present, the underlying power will doubtless come to the fore with time. - Charles Curtis MW, Decanter, 95 Points.

Reveals rich and concentrated flavors of pear tart and dried mango, roasted hazelnut and ground coffee, preserved lemon and candied ginger enlivened by a spine of racy acidity and an underlying streak of minerally smoke and brine. Offers a fine and creamy mousse, with pleasing viscosity to the overall impression. Long, spiced finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. - Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator, 95 Points.

The Finer Details
Style - Champagne
Varietal - Chardonnay 60%, Pinot Noir 40%
Country - France
Region - Champagne
Vintage - 2008 (65%), 2007 (25%), 2006 (10%)
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 12%
Closure - Cork