Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque

Tatler Champagne Guide 2024-2025

Grape Makeup:

50% Chardonnay; 45% Pinot Noir; 5% Meunier

Sweetness Level:

Brut

Ageing on Lees:

Five+ years

Price:

$$$

Cellar:

Ten+ years

Category:

Collectible

What

With over two centuries of history and now part of Pernod Ricard, this house is famed for Belle Époque, its prestige cuvée with one of the most iconic bottles in champagne.

Where

Épernay; 65ha, over 50% in the Côte des Blancs with substantial holdings in Cramant and Avize Grands Crus.

Why

Belle Époque’s bottle’s white Japanese anemone motif was created by botanist and designer Émile Gallé. This year it also comes with a beautiful moulded paper sleeve that forms a white flower on top. The stunning 2015 vintage has an incredible tension of structure (compaction with acidity) and aromatics (florals with intense umami savour). Chalkier sites than are typical for Pinot Noir, which comprises almost half the blend here, help make that component especially graceful and restrained.

What Else

Séverine Frerson, Chef de Cave since 2020, is only the 8th to hold that role here since 1811 and the first woman. Frerson likens vintages of Belle Époque to flowers like the white orchid, her favourite, or the carnation.

Tasting Notes

Intense and floral, this opens with gardenia, vetiver and palo santo, with Meyer lemon seltzer below, for an interesting contrast of the open and floral with the dry. The same happens on the palate, with an initial puff of fragrance quickly withdrawing into itself and becoming quite tart and savoury, with a comté-like savoury/saline edge to its lemon and yellow apple fruit. The acidity is very elevated, but the body is quite dense and compact, creating a high level of contrast. The finish has a pleasing digestive biscuit yeastiness and clean texture.

Try It With

Flavourful cold seafood dishes like abalone or seafood roe

When To Drink

Chilled entrées

Perfect For

Your friend who collects perfume bottles

TL/DR

Wafting florals on the nose, taut and savoury body

Supplier

Pernod Ricard