NV Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle #26
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Tasting notes
The Grand Siècle No 26 is a wine of extraordinary craftsmanship. It marries the excellent 2012 vintage with the nuance of 2008 and 2007, resulting in a symphony of flavour. Aromatically, it delights with lively notes of apple crumble, fresh orange zest, and subtle mineral undertones. On the palate, it exudes richness and power balanced by precise acidity, evolving into an intricate mid-palate full of brioche and a gourmand intensity. This wine is built to age gracefully for decades, yet its structure is complemented by a unique elegance. The long, savoury finish is testament to its grandeur. While it's approachable now, a few more years of cellaring will reveal even greater beauty. The Grand Siècle No 26 is a triumph.
Critic scores
Average Score
Tom Hewson, Decanter
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
Disgorged in 2023 with a dosage of seven grams per liter, the NV Grand Siècle N°26—a blend of the 2012, 2008 and 2007 vintages, with dominance from the youngest—continues its impressive trajectory. It opens with aromas of peach, candied pear and burnt buttered toast, mingling with clementine, honeysuckle and a hint of iodine. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, fleshy and textural, boasting a ripe yet vibrant fruit core underpinned by lively acidity and enlivened by a pinpoint mousse, concluding with a delicately saline finish. Described by Olivier Vigneron as “monolithic,” this iteration shows itself slightly more elegant than the N°27. Comprising 58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir, it too hails from eight villages.
The NV Champagne Grand Siècle Iteration No. 26 is, as always, a blend from three vintages: 2012, 2008, and 2007. The blend is 58% Chardonnay and the remainder Pinot Noir. In the glass, it takes on a golden straw hue, with gorgeous fresh notes of ripe peach, quince, cherry blossoms, and fresh pastry dough. Medium to full-bodied, with an elegant and refined mousse and a lacy chalk texture, it’s a gorgeous expression that continues to evolve in the glass as it opens. Drink 2025-2055. It has the addition of six grams per liter dosage.
Youthful fruit (especially compared with the Krug Grande Cuvée 172ème), biscuit and baked lemon on the palate. Full, long, intense. Both youthful and developed, just as non-vintage champagne should be, and absolutely ready to drink. (RH)
About the producer
Laurent-Perrier is one of the wine world’s most recognisable brands, most famous for its rosé Champagne and distinct bell-shaped bottle. Grand Siècle is Laurent Perrier's Non-Vintage Deluxe Cuvée is a blend of a number of exceptional vintages.