Perrier-Jouët : Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs 2006

A fine and generous Blanc de Blancs champagne

The producer

The Perrier-Jouet Champagne House was founded in 1811 by Pierre Perrier and his wife, Adèle Jouët. Produced from exceptional Champagne terroirs (Ay, Mailly-Champagne, Avize and Cramant), the house’s cuvées are renowned for their unique style, which mixes aromatic richness, sophistication and subtlety. Perrier-Jouët became Queen Victoria’s official champagne in 1861, then that of the French Imperial Court.

Owned by the Champagne company, GH Mumm, since 1959, the Perrier-Jouët House particularly stands out through the iconic bottle of its prestigious cuvée "Belle Époque", devised by Émile Gallé in 1969.

The wine

Adorned with Japanese white anemone flowers, a motif created for the house in 1902 by Émile Gallé, a master of Art Nouveau, the Belle Époque Blanc de Blancs cuvée by Perrier-Jouët is the house’s rarest and most iconic cuvée.

This champagne proudly embodies 200 years of illustrious know-how and is made from one historical terroir, one grape variety and one specific year.

With a total surface area of 6.8 hectares, Bouron Leroi and Bouron du Midi were the first two plots acquired by the house during the 19th century. Located in Cramant on a southeast-facing limestone soil, the mid-slope, Grand Cru-classified terroir reveals all of the potential and aromatic nuances of a flagship grape variety from Champagne – Chardonnay.

The vintage

2006 was an exceptional year in Champagne. July was marked by strong heat, giving way to cooler conditions in August, which were then followed by an Indian summer before harvests. These conditions were optimal for ripening, generating grapes with a perfect balance between sugar, acidity and aromatic purity.

Vinification and ageing

This vintage champagne, which dosage is 8g/litre, enjoys a minimum of 6 years of ageing in the house’s chalk cellars.

The blend

The Belle Époque Blanc de Blancs 2006 cuvée by Perrier-Jouët is a 100% Chardonnay wine.

The tasting

Colour

The wine is a beautifully bright golden colour with subtle green highlights. The effervescence is delicate.

Nose

Intense and beautifully complex, the nose mixes floral fragrances (white flowers, acacia, hawthorn, lilac, elderberry) with delicious notes of honey, pineapple, poached pear and candied lemon. The bouquet is brightened up with touches of vanilla, hazelnut, cream and brioche.

Palate

A fresh and pure attack precedes an ample and aromatic palate. The finish seduces with its elegance and silky touch.

Food and wine pairing

The Belle Époque Blanc de Blancs 2006 cuvée by Perrier-Jouët goes perfectly with a crab, porcini mushrooms or even passion fruit.

Serving

For an optimal tasting, serve at 12°C.