Champagne Perrier-Jouët celebrated its bicentenary across the world in 2011. Coinciding with the milestone, Gourmantic celebrated a special anniversary in November in the same year, with a vintage bottle of 1985 Belle Epoque prestige cuvée.
Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque is renowned for the enamelled anemone motif that decorates the bottle. Created by Emile Gallé, the master glassmaker and leading light of the Art Nouveau movement for Perrier-Jouët in 1902, it is said to echo the floral notes of the wine which is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque 1985
The 1985 bottle had been cellared for some years. But how does a 26 year old prestige cuvée taste, and more importantly, had it turned in the bottle after it reached its optimum drinking potential?
The pop of the cork was loud, a reassuring indication that it still retained some effervescence. Deep amber, almost gold in colour, the wine was sweet on the nose with some yeast characteristics, unlike the floral nose of the younger vintages. The bubbles held their own in the glass long after the champagne was poured.
On the palate, it was buttery with brioche and honey, a luxuriant mouthfeel with a lingering finish. Paired with foie gras from Alsace made it a decadent celebration.
[…] Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque 2004 is made from 100% grand cru vineyards in Cramant and Avize. A blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, aged 6 years sur lie, it has a fresh and silky style, a wine of celebration enjoyed at the marriage of Prince Albert II of Monaco. […]
[…] Toulouse-Lautrec’s Divan Japonais poster, to art by Czech Art Nouveau painter Alphonse Mucha, the Belle Epoque bottle of Perrier-Jouët or the Jean-Paul Gaultier clad Piper Heidsieck, these have become iconic emblems that attribute to […]
[…] to Epernay and the visite des caves. Whether you’re toasting a G.H. Mumm Blanc de Blancs, Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque, or any of the grower champagnes or prestige cuvées we’ve featured in the CIVC Champagne […]
[…] mood, particularly if you splurge on a prestige cuvée such as Dom Perignon, Bollinger or a vintage Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque. But if you’re after raw passion instead of heart-fluttering romance, say it with cocktails and […]
[…] in September. The Champagne Room will showcase an impressive list of fine champagne including Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque 2006 by the flute (the only venue in Australia to offer this exceptional wine by the glass) and […]
[…] Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque is a prestige cuvée made from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Starting with Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque 2006, the tasting moved onto the 2004 vintage from a Magnum and onto a surprise 1999 vintage from a Jeroboam (3 litres). The latter had begun to show more evidence of minerality and structure reminiscent of those of Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque 1985. […]