Grand Siecle Iteration N°22
⏳ wine.drinking_window
This iteration is drinking beautifully now but possesses the structure and depth to cellar gracefully for 15 to 25 years from its disgorgement date.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Pan-seared sea scallops with a rich butter sauce, slow-roasted poultry such as capon or pheasant, and aged hard cheeses like vintage Comté.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Grand Siècle is Laurent-Perrier's signature prestige cuvée, conceived in 1959 by the visionary Bernard de Nonancourt. Rejecting the convention that a prestige Champagne must be a single vintage, de Nonancourt sought to recreate the 'perfect year' by blending three exceptional complementary vintages. The name pays homage to the 17th century, the 'Great Century' of Louis XIV, an era of unparalleled refinement in French gastronomy and art, and the wine is presented in a distinctive curved bottle inspired by the period's hand-blown glass. Iteration N°22 is a masterful assemblage of the 2004, 2002, and 1999 vintages, composed of approximately 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir sourced exclusively from 11 of Champagne's most prestigious Grand Crus. Aged for over a decade on its lees, this cuvée balances the freshness of Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs with the structural power of Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims, resulting in a complex profile of toasted brioche, candied citrus, honey, and roasted hazelnuts.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1812 in the grand cru village of Tours-sur-Marne, Champagne, Laurent-Perrier is one of the world's most esteemed, family-controlled Champagne houses. Under the visionary leadership of Bernard de Nonancourt, who took the helm in 1948, the house pioneered a signature style defined by freshness, elegance, and purity, heavily emphasizing the Chardonnay grape. Laurent-Perrier is celebrated for its groundbreaking innovations, including the creation of the multi-vintage prestige cuvée Grand Siècle, the pioneering zero-dosage Ultra Brut, and the iconic, maceration-crafted Cuvée Rosé. Today, the house continues to champion sustainable viticulture and traditional craftsmanship, producing a diverse portfolio of world-class sparkling wines that epitomize French art de vivre.