Laurent-Perrier : Millésimes Réserves 2002

Characteristics and tasting tips for Laurent-Perrier Millésimes Réserves 2002

Tasting

Appearance
This champagne reveals a fairly deep golden-yellow colour, enlivened by a fine, delicate stream of bubbles, a testament to its patient evolution in the cellar.

Nose
The nose opens with notes of honey, peach and apricot, evoking ripe stone fruit aromas enriched with slightly honeyed nuances, typical of long ageing.

Palate
The palate retains a still very present acidity, which brings structure and vivacity, while a slight roundness, probably linked to the dosage, softens the whole without weighing it down. The finish is well balanced, carried by a ripe and harmonious texture.

Food and wine pairing

This champagne pairs beautifully with fine poultry, especially when served with a creamy mushroom sauce. It also works very well with firm-fleshed prime fish and shellfish, as well as with hard cooked-curd cheeses such as aged Comté or Beaufort.

Serving and cellaring

The Millésimes Réserves 2002 is presented in magnum format, a size that encourages slow, harmonious development of the wine thanks to a more favourable volume-to-surface ratio than in a standard bottle. It is best served lightly chilled, without excessive cold, to allow its full aromatic palette to express itself.

A champagne from Tours-sur-Marne with freshness preserved by long ageing

The estate

Founded in 1812 in Tours-sur-Marne, the Champagne house Laurent-Perrier is a family-owned, independent company, now run by a Management Board chaired by Stéphane Dalyac, alongside Alexandra Pereyre de Nonancourt and Stéphanie Meneux de Nonancourt, daughters of Bernard de Nonancourt. The majority of the capital remains held by the de Nonancourt family, owners since 1939. The House has built its identity around freshness, elegance and purity, playing a pioneering role in macerated rosés and non-dosed champagnes.

The vineyard

The grapes used for this cuvée come in particular from the area around Tours-sur-Marne, a Grand Cru-classified village located at the crossroads of three great Champagne vineyard areas. The House also sources grapes from partner growers in the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs, with Chardonnay predominating in the composition of its cuvées.

Winemaking and ageing

The Millésimes Réserves 2002 is part of the House's tradition of extended conservation of reserve wines. It was aged on its lees for a long period before being bottled in magnum, a format conducive to slow, steady ageing. The winemaking relies on smooth-walled stainless steel tanks, designed to limit oxidation as much as possible and preserve the wine's freshness over time.

Grape varieties

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay