Laurent-Perrier, `Grand Siècle` Brut Edition No. 26

Laurent-Perrier owns 150 hectares of land, which produces 10% of what is needed to make the 'La Cuvée.' The other 90% is bought in from over 100 Grand Crus villages. The Laurent-Perrier vines are planted on chalky soils which are typical of the Champagne region. The chalk subsoil holds sufficient water and provides good drainage when it is wet to prevent roots becoming water logged.

This wine is a blend of three distinct vintages, each contributing its own character. The 2012 vintage, marked by spring frosts and a dry, sunny summer, produced wines of great finesse, with elegant, balanced Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs showing red fruit aromas. The 2008 vintage, considered outstanding, yielded complex and well-structured wines, where Chardonnays and Pinots Noirs displayed remarkable aromatic richness. Meanwhile, the 2007 vintage, following a warm spring and variable summer, brought fresh, straightforward wines, with Chardonnays offering citrus and white fruit notes and Pinot Noirs expressing yellow fruit aromas. Together, these vintages create a harmonious and expressive blend of depth, balance, and freshness.

There is a further sorting in the winery, where the top 'Cuvée' or free-run juice is identified and sent to separately-housed fermentation vats. After the first fermenation, the base wines are blended and then bottled before being aged in the cellar for over five years to gain the yeasty, autolytic character of bread, almonds and honey.