Laurent Perrier Grande Siecle No.26

Laurent Perrier Grande Siecle No.26, Champagne, France

Producer Tasting Note:

EYE: A white gold colour with delicate and persistent bubbles. NOSE: A very complex nose which mixes honeysuckle, lemon, clementine and fresh butter aromas, followed by notes of hazelnut and a touch of honey. PALATE: The attack in the mouth is very delicate and fresh with candied lemon and fresh hazelnut aromas. The palate is silky and mineral with notes of honeysuckle, flaked almonds and clementine.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"The ‘Grand Siecle’ No. 26 is an incredible wine that mostly was sourced from the 2012 vintage. The wine combines 60% Chardonnay with the remainder Pinot Noir, this was sourced from a selection of 9 Grand Cru Vineyards. Biscuit and marzipan notes mark the nose alongside salted green apple and kumquat notes. The palate shows beautiful weight and tension as its silky mousse really makes this glide throughout the drinking experience. Lifted ginger and orange blossom tones combine with the fantastic core of sourdough bread, Gravenstein apple, and cantaloupe flavors. The concentration and verve suggests this will live on for another fifteen plus years to come"  Drink 2023-2038

97/100 points, Owen Bargreen, October 2023

“Incredibly detailed nose and explosive palate. Hugely rewarding. Very fine bead and a wine that reaches all corners of the palate. Hints of greenery and acacia honey. An aperitif for millionaires? And actually not ridiculously priced for the quality. Long. Beautiful texture. Complete"  Drink 2023-2036

19/20 points, Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com, December 2023

"'A big personality, showing plenty of complex florals, orchard and stone fruits, fresh herbs and a silky, chalky mineral finish. Outstanding elegance.' Chris Goodale, Julie's Restaurant. 'Notes of fresh pastry, anise, herbs, peach and citrus. Fantastic texture – delicate yet powerful in flavour. A versatile style, perfect for celebratory or gastronomic occasions, and will continue to develop.'

GOLD MEDAL & CRITICS' CHOICE, Matthew Davison (Moor Hall), SOMMELIERS WINE AWARDS, 2024

Always a blending of the three most recently available exceptional vintages (Cuvee #26 is mostly from 2012), Grand Siècle is made with a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend, with the latter being slightly dominant. Nine of the most prestigious villages supply these grapes; all of them classified at 100% Grands Crus such as Ambonnay, Verzenay, Mailly, Avize, Cramant, Chouilly and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Within the vineyards of these villages, only the very best plots are selected, as are the finest musts from the pressings. The blended wine is then aged during the second fermentation on the yeast for approximately ten years. Versatile in its complexity, the intensity of Grand Siècle makes it a wonderful match with any dish containing truffles or mushrooms. Firm and well-matured cheeses such as Cantal and Beaufort also offer opulent pairing opportunities. 

In the 17th Century, during the reign of Louis XIV, France enjoyed its most illustrious era. Louis XIV became known as the "Sun King" for his benevolence and his patronage of the Arts, which became the foundation of France's rich artistic heritage. At the Palace of Versailles Louis XIV was the first French King to drink Champagne. Louis XIV's era became known as the Grand Siècle - the "Great Century". Bottled in a replica of a 17th Century bottle evoking the radiance of that period, Laurent-Perrier's prestige cuvées embody luxury, magnificence and elegance fit for a king. When it came to his prestige cuvée, Bernard de Nonancourt decided to highlight two of Champagne's traditional realms of proficiency: the blending of different crus and different vintages. Grand Siècle is the epitome of Champagne cuvées, as it blends complementary wines from Laurent-Perrier's very best growths and most successful vintage years.