Christmas isn’t Christmas without a glass (or bottle) of good champagne. With the festive season just around the corner and Laurent-Perrier celebrating its 50th year anniversary of its iconic Cuvée Rosé, last week was the perfect time to head to Reims and Tours-sur-Marne in Champagne to take a good look at this very prestigious brand. We were lucky enough to sample the portfolio, take a tour of the magnificent Laurent-Perrier cellars and, most importantly, shoot some incredible content at both the champagne house and the nearby Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa.
For those of you not familiar, Laurent–Perrier is over two hundred years old and boasts a proud history of traditional champagne production, albeit always looking to carve out their own niche; evident in a strong collection of cuvées that the House produces. On our trip to France, the focus was very much on the marquee Cuvée Rosé, deconstructing the subtle flavours that make up a very unique drink. Using the highest quality Pinot Noir grapes, it is one of the few rosé champagnes that is made by leaving the grape juice in contact with the black grape skins to impart colour and flavour, instead of blending red and white wines. The result is a champagne which borrows some of the best qualities from a Pinot Noir; less focus on the fizz and more on the flavour. Bottled in a very iconic silhouette, it’s the perfect Christmas gift, or served for yourself paired with raw fishes or pink meats such as duck and lamb.
A trip to the Laurent-Perrier House wouldn’t be complete without sampling the entire portfolio, and we were lucky enough to try a few more standout champagnes that really are best for special occasions (or that very special someone if you’re feeling generous). The Ultra Brut, as the name would imply, is a Brut with very special qualities. Known as a standout “wine without sugar”, this blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay has the most incredible, lingering crisp honey taste that lies on the tongue well after that first sip. Laurent-Perrier highlight this wine as the perfect partner to a ceviche but, if like me, you don’t eat fish, it’s the perfect aperitif on its own.
Finally, and by no means one to be overlooked, we sampled the illustriously names Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle. This is the best of the best; exceptional grapes blended from exceptional years towards the late nineties and early noughties. The bottle is a replica of a bottle from 1705, during the reign of Louis XIV, which was a period of unprecedented prosperity for France. The Grand Siecle’s glasswork is to be admired and this is a VERY special gift for a loved one. Packing more of a punch than the more discreet Ultra Brut, this is a Christmas treat to be enjoyed with richer dishes; think truffles, fine cuts of steak or well-seasoned poultry (just not on the same plate, obviously).
A huge thanks to the Laurent-Perrier team for hosting us on this trip; you can shop the Laurent-Perrier range using the links below (treat yourself or a loved one for Christmas):
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- Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé
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- Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut
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- Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle
