Christie Kiley on December 15, 2014 0 Comments Blame it all on the holidays and the upcoming New Year! I had to do a review on this fabulous bubble, the Laurent-Perrier Brut. I personally, never just wait for the New Year or other special occasion open up a Champagne or other lovely Sparkling wine. There are many reasons to celebrate and there are simply too many bubblies to drink in a lifetime! So why wait? Christmas and most certainly New Year’s festivities are still only a few days away, and as I said you do not have to, nor should you wait to give this a try. I am quite sure in many parts of the country, there are many of you out there that have to make a showing at some pre-holiday party or dinner. The general and polite rule is that you should never show up empty-handed. Then there is always the stress in going your local wine merchant and picking out that ideal bottle that everyone will love. Who does not love nice Champagne? I think you will get an invitation to return the following year if you bring this. The Details The Champagne house of Laurent-Perrier began in 1812 with an Andre Michel Pierlot whom took the name of Vve Laurent-Perrier when a Mathilde Emilie Perrier wanted to expand on the business and decided it best to combine the two family names. Whew! That is a bit complicated. I will give you a moment in case you need to re-read that one. They were originally bottlers of wine and coopers in the region of Chigny-les-Roses. Andre decided to settle in the Tours-sur-Marne region in 1812 as one of the Champagne negociants. He purchased two plots by the names of La Tour Glorieux and Lex Plaisances which were to become two important vinyards of the Laurent-Perrier estate. Unfortunately, Andre had an accidental death in 1887, and his wife, Mathilde had to take helm of the business. She renamed the house ‘Veuve Laurent-Perrier’ and rebuilt the business and improved waning finances and even kept it afloat during the Great War. Onwards, she even partnered with Sir Alexander Fletcher McKenzie in order to expand their products into England markets. The cellar master, Eugene Laurent received the house in 1881, where he took it upon himself to create the foundation to create great Champagne. The farm-houses and land were converted to get the state into full-operation. He only purchased the best vines to plant in the locations of Tours-sur-Marne, Bouzy and Ambonnay. Following the plantations, eight-hundred meters of cellars were dug and a laboratory for blending and cuvee tasting was put into place. It was then that the estate was truly set in place at Tours-sur-Marne, a lovely village at the crossroads of Champagne’s most important zones, and became part of the seventeen Grand Cru regions. Unfortunately, the luck ran out with more war and the estate found itself in terrible debt and had to sell. It remained in the family up until 1939, when it was purchased by Misses Marrie-Louise Lanson de Nonancourt. The Champagne of Laurent-Perrier Today The newer generation of the Laurent-Perrier Champagne house can be attributed to the success of the business we know of and can enjoy today. Alongside more modern and technical approaches to making Champagne, he focuses on precise and careful blending and artisanal approaches, but respects the history of the estate and its personality. Today, they are known for their consistency from year to year and their very own blend, or ‘cuvee’. The Bubbly Not only is this Champagne affordable, it is a great reflection of its original founders and what they would have wanted out of their product today. It is crisp and refreshing, yet it does not falter in class and elegance. The bubbles create a hypnotizing stream in your flute while reflecting its golden color and citrus hues. The nose showcases many orchard fruits; white peach, green Anjou pear, crisp apple and more, with just a slight note of chalky minerality and warm pop-overs. The palate is just as delicious, intriguing and refreshing. Perfect for a toast, for a holiday Sunday brunch or a substantial meal of roasted and wine-basted quail with creamy scalloped potatoes. More Reviews: Piper Sonoma Brut Pommery Brut Rose NV Roederer Estate Brut Luc Belaire Rare Rosé
