Another week arrrives, and so too another great Champagne house brought into focus! Last week's Perrier-Jouët and Mumm pairing was a knockout, and a warm thank you once again to those who came along and made it that much more special. Now, from Épernay and Reims, we take a venture to the village of Tours-sur-Marne, and to its most legendary name - one that we know many of you await eagerly each year - Laurent-Perrier!
Still independent and family-driven after over two centuries (1812 their establishing year), one thing we can always rely on LP for is their sense of purity and freshness, with Chardonnay taking up a high proportion of their efforts and production. Indeed, they were one of the very first houses back in the late 1970's to make the total transition to stainless steel vats over oak barrels, which they discovered could lend its very own aromatic complexities and overall sharpness.
On special this week, and pouring come this Saturday (15th) between 12 and 2pm will be their brilliantly valued entry Brut, the La Cuvée NV (with magnums and a methusaleh also available for those upcoming celebrations), the now final remaining bottles of the Brut Millésimé 2012 (which will stay on special indefinitely), plus the current Millésimé release in the 2015, alongside two memorable zero dosage efforts releases in their Ultra Brut Nature and recently-released Blanc de Blancs NV. Of course, it wouldn't be a Laurent-Perrier lineup without their stunning Cuvée Rosé NV, quite possibly all of our staff's most favoured pink bubbles, as pure and as ripe an NV you'll ever come across with a 100% Pinot Noir dominance. Lastly, the eternally-unique Grand Siècle multi-vintage release, with this 26th iteration holding three exceptional base years in 2012, 2008 and 2007.
We can't wait to see how they all show come the weekend! Any and all LP fans, do take the chance to grab hold at these special prices through the week if you can't make it in for the tasting, with special mention going to the 2012 Brut Millésimé; a striking price for a year that is showing really beautifully right now, and very soon to disappear.
The Lineup -
La Cuvée Brut NV
$89 on special this week ($99 RRP)
// 50% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 15% Pinot Meunier
Base vintage 2020
Dosage: 8gr/l
Aged for 4 years on lees before disgorgement in December 2024
"The elegantly floral, sensuous nose of lemon and orchard fruit has a light toasty whiff, alongside a touch of cardamom spiciness. Even lovely yeasty complexity is coming through. The palate is seamless and silky, very fine, with this flowing sensation enhancing the quaffing character. A drinkable, charming even if lightweight wine, with laudable fruit purity and impeccable balance." - Essi Avellan MW
Also available in:
Magnum (1500ml) - $209 on special this week ($235 RRP)
Methusaleh (6000ml) - $1,025 on special this week ($1,150 RRP)
Brut Millésimé 2012 -
$125 ongoing special ($149 RRP)
(Final bottles of this vintage)
// 50% Pinot Noir & 50% Chardonnay
Aged on lees for eight years before disgorgement in late 2021
8g/L dosage
"This is such a beautiful champagne year and the wines from this vintage shine with style and Queensland winter sunshine! All the Pinot and Chardonnay is from Grand Cru vineyards in Côte des Blancs villages Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Cramant and Chouilly for the Chardonnay and Ay, Verzenay, Verzy and Mailly for the Pinot Noir. The golden straw colour reveals the great quality Chardonnay which is a signature of this great House. Citrus shines with lemons, bitter orange, ripe pomelo and a wonderful mineral backbone. There is a layer of pineapple, some apricot, white peach and a great lemon-blossom flowery nose. The Grand Cru Pinot Noir reflects new-season blueberries and ripe raspberries with a layer of plum. Hints of ginger shine through. It is a finely knit wine - very elegant with a fine effervescence and lively palate. A marvelous wine to drink now or put down for many years to come. There will be some in my cellar! Elegant and divine!" - Bernadette O'Shea, Champagne Consultant, TWE
"Light-mid yellow, pastry/bakery and gently toasted aromas, which accord with the rich savoury flavours, nicely balanced to a dry finish, with line and length and harmony. Totally satisfying Champagne." - 96 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
$139 on special this week ($155 RRP)
// Chardonnay 52% and Pinot Noir 48% (with reserve wines from a chosen complementary year)
0g/L dosage
Aged on lees for 6 years
"Pioneer of the Brut Nature category, Ultra Brut is a wine with no added sugar. It expresses the quintessential character of champagne and was known as a 'Great Wine without sugar'. Launched in 1981, Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut is a true illustration of the House’s know-how..." - House Notes
"Light-medium straw-yellow colour, some age development showing on the bouquet as well, where it's quite toasty and mellow, the flavour penetrating and very dry, long and balanced, not sharp or austere, a high-quality example of the dry style. Lemon and toast/brioche flavours fill the mouth. Some cork-age suspected. Impressive." - 95 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
// 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir
Made up of vintages 2019 (30%), 2018 (30%), 2016 (20%) and 2014 (20%)
Disgorged December 2023
6g/L dosage
"The inaugural NV Héritage from Laurent-Perrier is a new cuvée composed of 40 different crus, including grands crus and premiers crus, entirely crafted from vins de réserve. A tribute to the heritage and expertise of Grand Siècle, it offers up aromas of blanched almonds, spices, brioche, spring flowers and lemon oil, mingled with a lovely, smoky reduction. Medium to full-bodied, enveloping and round, with a sappy, layered texture, it has a fleshy core of fruit enhanced by bright acids and a long, mineral finish. Chef de Cave Michel Fauconnet has crafted a stunning wine." - 94 Points, Yohan Castaing, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
"This new multi-vintage cuvée feels very at home in Laurent-Perrier's lineup, displaying some density and concentration evident in the choice of the reserve wines from all around Champagne. There's a super-ripe, juicy orange fruit and tropical lilt to the profile here, with succulent apricot, pear and lemon peel pulled into quite a firm, tightly bound coil of structure. It's detailed with an energising, super subtle twist of quinine-like bitterness and some richer roasted almond notes hinting at maturity." - 93 Points, Tom Hewson, Decanter
$175 on special this week ($195 RRP)
// 100% Pinot Noir
2019 base vintage
Aged 5 years on lees before disgorgement in November 2024
8g/L dosage
"The NV Brut Cuvée Rosé, a pure Pinot Noir from ten villages in the Montagne de Reims, macerates for 48 to 72 hours to achieve its pink color and ages for at least five years. Fruity aromatics include freshly crushed raspberry, strawberry and redcurrant, with crunchy ripe red cherry and a hint of Amarena cherries. The palate is wonderfully crisp, slender and taut, yet rich, showcasing vividly expressive red fruits against a backdrop of smooth breadiness and snappy lemon. No wonder this is such a classic. It delivers fruit galore but never tips into opulence." - 93 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"Laurent Perrier first released this rosé in 1968, well before it became fashionable to have a pink-hued Champagne in the portfolio. 100% Pinot Noir is sourced from both the north and south sectors of the Montagne de Reims sub-region, and famously draws its colour from skin contact rather than the more usual addition of red wine. It has striking freshness on the nose, bags of pure, zippy strawberry and raspberry fruit flavours, and satisfying vivacity. It's beautifully balanced with a long finish, and calls for a carpaccio of raw salmon." - 92 Points, Yohan Castaing, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
// 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir
Aged on lees for over seven years before disgorgement in September 2024
6g/L dosage
"Supple smokiness and a sense of rye bread with distant plum create a subtle nose. The palate continues with that lovely smokiness, wrapping it around aromatic plum and taut lemon, which are delicious counter poles in this elegant wine. The bubbles are a little frothy, but it acquits itself well for a 2015 vintage with all its freshness." - 93 Points, Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous
"Drinkers accustomed to Laurent-Perrier's usual delicacy and brightness will still find it in this 50:50 split of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but the year's up-front firmness plays clearly through bittersweet citrus, yellow apple and pithy, peppery grip, the fruit headed towards golden and tropical nuances rather than classical citrus and gentle red fruits. The body remains fairly compact rather than heavy or viscous, though, as most 2015s do. It's a punchy, food-friendly vintage for Laurent-Perrier that marks quite a contrast from both the more classical 2012 and 2008 that preceded it." - 92 Points, Tom Hewson, Decanter
Blanc de Blancs (Brut Nature) NV -
$199 on special this week ($225 RRP)
// 100% Grand Cru and Premier Cru Chardonnay
2016 and 2014 base vintages
Aged on lees for four years before disgorgement in September 2024
0g/L dosage
"Refined scents of flowers and white pears. The mid-palate is a lovely bag of spicy bonbons, nougat and peaches. Really long, rich and velvety with a lick of mouthwatering lemon curd in the aftertaste." - 95 Points, Decanter World Wine Awards
"Gaining gravitas from the generous use of reserve wines, here fruit from Côte des Blancs' Avize, Cramant, Oiry and Chouilly is complemented by Chardonnay from Tours-sur-Marne, Villers-Marmery and Rilly-La-Montagne on the Montagne de Reims. On the beautifully fresh nose, lime blossom and lemon custard tart are complemented by the most stylish smoky, toasty whiffs. The perfectly pure fruitiness has a lovely, soft creaminess to it from lees ageing. The palate continues on the same brisk lemony path but a little more subtle. There is great intensity to the smooth, rounded palate with racy drive. It is bone dry but takes it perfectly well without being cut short or becoming austere." - 93 Points, Essi Avellan MW
Grand Siècle No. 26 Multi-Vintage -
$429 on special this week ($480 RRP)
// 58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir
Base vintages 2012 (65%), 2008 (25%) and 2007 (10%)
Aged for ten years on lees before disgorgement in February 2023
7g/L dosage
“This is really something. Electric on the palate. The aromas are so complex with sliced fresh and dried ginger, subtle pie crust, tarte tatin and hints of nutmeg with some salted caramel. Toasted bread, too. Always subtle. The palate is full- to medium-bodied yet hemmed-in with a freshness and balance that draws you back. Savory and vibrant. It's full of energy. Spectacular. Fascinating. Symphonic blend of 2012, 2008 and 2007. 65% of the 2012, 25% of the 2008 and 10% of the 2007. Eight grand cru.” - 100 Points, James Suckling (Wine of the Year 2023 Winner)
"Powerful aroma of orange peel and something in the putty/chalk spectrum. It somehow manages to be both tight yet approachable, dense in terms of flavour concentration yet filigree in terms of texture. As usual, it's so Chardonnay! Overriding citrus character and quite amazingly long, a mouthful tingling on the palate for minutes not seconds. Enormous finesse. Massive pleasure. This would make the most luxurious aperitif." - 19.5 out of 20, Jancis Robinson MW
"This iteration of Grand Siècle is almost entirely composed of two of Champagne's greatest recent vintages, so expectations are high. The wine more than meets them, tempering the generosity of 2012's fruit – ripe apricots, white peach, clementines and sunny, zesty citrus – with a pitch-perfect streak of 2008 tautness and structure. There are some fleshy, creamy notes of papaya and toasted white sourdough, but everything is as delicately rendered as expected and impeccably shaped, with a sleek, silky mousse. A little more approachable than Itération No. 25, it will welcome extended bottle age rather than demand it." - 96 Points, Tom Hewson, Decanter
Other larger formats on special -
Brut Millésimé 2012 Magnum (1500ml)
- $319 on special this week ($359 RRP)
Grand Siècle No. 23 Magnum (1500ml)
- $915 on special this week ($1,050 RRP)
If you wish to purchase any of these champagnes, please use the links above
Otherwise, if you have any questions, please contact us on (07)32521117 or email sales@thewineemporium.com.au
// Special prices valid until Monday the 17th of November