The Belle Epoque Champagne cuvée is the Prestige vintage wine by famous Epernay-based Perrier-Jouët house.
It has symbolized the excellence of the brand for nearly 50 years now.
Belle Epoque is one of the most famous and prestigious indeed of all Prestige Cuvée Champagnes, featuring among such wine stars as Dom Pérignon or Pol Roger’s Sir Winston Churchill.
About Belle Epoque Flower Bottle
In 1902, the then-manager of Perrier-Jouet, Henri Gallice commissioned Emile Gallé, a leading glass designer and famous founding father of the Art Nouveau artistic movement (popular between 1890 and 1910 and inspired by natural forms and structures), to craft a special bottle for his top vintage Champagne.
Gallé came up with the now-famous Japanese anemone flowers featured on every bottle of Belle Epoque now.
But back at the beginning of the 20th century, manufacturing these bottles would have resulted way too costly and labor-intensive in the absence of automation at the time.
Gallé’s Art Deco flower bottles were therefore ‘forgotten’ until the first-ever vintage of Belle Epoque, the 1964 vintage was released in 1969.
Perrier-Jouet Champagne House in Brief
The Perrier-Jouët Champagne House, founded in 1811, now owns 65 hectares (160 acres) classified at 99.2% on the scale of the crus, including forty hectares of Chardonnay on the Grands Crus of Cramant and Avize. Chardonnay, a floral, elegant and delicate variety, is the signature of Perrier-Jouët champagne.
Maison Perrier-Jouët only works on small volumes with limited production.
Its Cellar Managers have always known how to preserve the historical treasures of the House, as the first vintages, such as the Perrier-Jouët 1825, the oldest existing to date in Champagne.
Perrier-Jouët is part of the Pernod-Ricard group.
Belle Epoque Winemaking Facts
Belle Epoque Champagne is made from about 50% Chardonnay from the grands crus of Cramant and Avize, 45% Pinot Noir rom the Montagne de Reims, and 5% Pinot Meunier Pinot Meunier (5%) from Dizy in the Vallée de la Marne.
Harvest of the grapes is done by hand, and the fermentation run in stainless steel tanks including a full malolactic fermentation.
The Champagne is matured for at least six years in the House’s cellars before disgorgement and dosage at 9 grams of added sugar per liter.
Belle Epoque Champagne Wine Reviews
Belle Epoque brings in all the tension we love and expect from a Grand Cru Chardonnay from Champagne, and adds the body, the liveliness of the fruit character of Pinot Noir with a hint of Premier Cru Pinot Meunier.
Watch the Review of Belle Epoque in Video
The style if consistent across various vintages, masterfully crafted by chef de cave Hervé Deschamps. Although, as the reviews of vintages 2011 and 2008 below highlight, there is a significant variation between vintages, and a certain evolution of the wine with ageing towards a more nutty and complex expression.
2011 Belle Epoque Champagne Review
Score: 92+/100 Points
A vibrant Champagne featuring a bright and shiny lemon-yellow color with hints of golden hues from the long ageing on lees. The boasts delicate aromas of sour-dough brioche with subtle white pepper and sweet spices. A marked floral element, elderflower and lily.
The palate is crisp and full of acidic tension from the Chardonnay, while flavors of lemon, lime and fine brioche notes. A crisp and vibrant, quite restrained vintage of Belle Epoque with great ageing potential.
2008 Belle Epoque Champagne Review
Score: 95+/100 points
An incredibly joyful wine throwing and bursting with flavors all over the place.
The acidity is driving the palate and bringing tension and minerality but there is also so much spicy depth, caramelized brioche depth and complexity!
Read the full review on 2008 Champagne Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Brut : Wonderfully Promising !
Watch the Individual Review of 2008 Belle Epoque in Video:
2004 Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs Wine Review
A Blanc de Blancs with a stunningly unique personality, complexity, depth and smooth balance. Delightful!
Read the full review on 2004 Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs
Watch the Individual Review of 2008 Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs in Video:
Continue Reading about Top Prestige Cuvée Champagne Awards here
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