PERRIER-JOUËT GRAND BRUT CHAMPAGNE
Perrier-Jouët changed the course of bubbly when it was the first to produce a dry champagne back in 1846. The rest, as they say, is history.
My eyes close with pleasure each time I take the first sip from a glass of Perrier-Jouët Brut. Right off, there are those floral aromas, followed by hints of brioche and a lingering taste of honey.
When you've sampled as many champagnes as I have, you develop a certain relationship with the bubbles — you really understand each other. Some bubbles are harsh and sharp, others soft and insubstantial. P-J's bubbles are generous, elegant, and luxurious.
The Grand Brut can be traced back to 1846 when Perrier-Jouët produced a wine called Cuvée K. Up until then, champagne was a sweet wine, due to the amount of sugar that was added during the aging process — up to 40% added sugar. Cuvée K was the first champagne with a much lower sugar level, less than 5%, creating a style known as brut. Maison Perrier-Jouët became famous for their dry champagne, which showcased the true essence of the Chardonnay grape. The dry style increased in popularity until today almost all champagne is brut.
"Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut is a melting pot of aromas and flavours – a wonderfully rounded, generous champagne whose joie de vivre makes every moment more special." – Séverine Frerson, Maison Perrier-Jouët Cellar Master
TASTING NOTES
Eye — Silvery gold in the glass.
Nose — Floral aromas, white flowers and hints of brioche and honey.
Palate — Complex with a rich, lingering and generous finish.
Overall — A vibrant and stylish cuvée with notes of caramel and a long, pleasing finish.
ABOUT MAISON PERRIER-JOUËT
Maison Perrier-Jouët, one of France's most historic champagne houses, was founded in 1811 upon the marriage of Pierre-Nicolas Perrier and Rose-Adélaïde Jouët.
There have only been seven cellar masters in the history of P-J. In October 2020, Séverine Frerson became the eighth cellar master and the first female ever to hold the position.
P-J's beautiful Belle Époque label was designed in 1902 by a famous Art Nouveau artist named Emile Gallé (1846-1904) who worked mostly in glass.
In December 2021, Maison Perrier-Jouët set a new record for a single bottle of champagne sold at auction. An 1874 vintage went under the hammer for £42,875 at Christie's in London.