Perrier-Jouët launches new vintages

Champagne Perrier-Jouët has released its Cuvee Belle Epoque 2004 and Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs 2002 in the UK.

Belle Epoque is a typical expression of Perrier-Jouet’s house style and the release of these new vintages in its bicentenary year (1811-2011) is a fitting testimony to the boutique house’s two hundred years of quality, consistency and elegance.

Two centuries of Champagne heritage, crafted by just seven cellar-masters, have seen the meticulous transmission of the House’s expertise and Grand Cru Chardonnay style.

Today's Chef de Cave, Hervé Deschamps draws upon this legacy of knowledge and Grand Cru terroir of 65 hectares, rated at 99.2% on the Champagne appellation quality scale.

At its heart lie some of the best Chardonnay plots in the Côte des Blancs, including 36 hectares in Cramant and Avize with optimal orientation and exposure, which produce Chardonnays with beautiful poise and structure.

These wine characteristics are reflected in Belle Epoque’s iconic Anemone bottle, designed in 1902 by leading Art Nouveau protagonist Emile Gallé, a friend of the House, which echoes the floral characteristics and purity of Perrier-Jouet wines.

Of Cuvee Belle Epoque, Champagne authority Tom Stevenson has written;
“No other prestige cuvée can match the consistency of style that Belle Epoque stamps upon every vintage.”

BELLE EPOQUE 2004

“Stylish, fresh and silky” (Herve Deschamps)
A fresh, stylish wine with good structure, silky & elegant, based on the mineral notes of the best Chardonnay Grands Crus. White flowers evolve into white fruits but retain a diamond-cut precision.

Aged: 6 years
Composition: 50% Chardonnay, 46% Pinot Noir and 4% Pinot Meunier
Alcohol: 12.5%
Dosage: 8g/L

Recommended Retail Price: £125

BELLE EPOQUE BLANC DE BLANCS 2002

The quintessence of the House terroir:  one vintage, one vineyard, two parcels, 100% Cramant Grand Cru from the plots Bourons-Leroy and Bourons du Midi.
Each bottle comes in a deluxe white lacquered case, accompanied by a book describing its journey from vineyard to glass.

“Complex and rich, with floral notes that typify the Perrier-Jouët style” (Herve Deschamps)

An exceptional, beautifully crafted Champagne, with stunning Chardonnay complexity and length. Rich yet delicate, rounded yet refined; floral motifs of hawthorn and acacia lead into citrus and tropical notes.

Aged: 8 years
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol: 12.5%
Dosage: 8g/L

Recommended Retail Price: £499
ends

www.perrier-jouët.com
www.champagneassembly.co.uk     
www.pernod-ricard.com

Perrier-Jouët is a Pernod Ricard brand
Pernod Ricard UK is part of the Pernod Ricard Group, co-leader of the global wines and spirits industry. Globally, Pernod Ricard now represents 91 million cases of spirits and 25 million cases of wine, and owns 19 of the world’s top 100 brands. Pernod Ricard UK has identified the following key brands in the UK market: ABSOLUT, Campo Viejo, Chivas Regal, G.H. Mumm, Havana Club, Jacob’s Creek, Jameson, Malibu, Martell, Montana, Pernod, Perrier-Jouët and The Glenlivet.  Pernod Ricard UK is a member of The Portman Group promoting responsible drinking.

1 May 2011 - Felicity Murray