Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Brut 2014
Good aromas, and a brioche note I liked, but the acidity was very weak.
Region: Champagne · Type: Sparkling · Vintage: 2014 · Producer: Perrier-Jouët · Grape: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Tasted 2025-01-04
In the glass
The aromas were good, and the brioche was what I liked. The acidity, though, was very weak. Something on the finish bothered me, and I wondered whether it was alcohol.
Producer
Champagne Perrier-Jouët was founded in Epernay in 1811 by Pierre-Nicolas Perrier and Rose-Adélaïde Jouët, a newly married couple united by their love of art and nature. The anemone design on the Belle Epoque bottle was drawn for Perrier-Jouët in 1902 by Emile Gallé, an Art Nouveau artist, Art Nouveau being the decorative style of the late nineteenth century that follows the curves of nature. The Belle Epoque vintage cuvée dressed in this design first appeared in 1964.
Site
The founders acquired vineyards in the villages of Cramant, Avize and Chouilly, all of which would later be classed as Grands Crus. Chardonnay now makes up 56% of the Perrier-Jouët vineyard, compared with 30% for the Champagne AOC as a whole. The house lists six emblematic crus for Belle Epoque: Cramant, Avize, Chouilly, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Vertus and Mailly.
Vinification
The Belle Epoque vintage cuvées are only produced in years when the weather conditions are close to perfection. The blend is 50% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir and 5% Pinot Meunier. The wine is aged for at least 6 years, with a dosage of 8 grams per litre.