This is not a single vintage wine, but a constructed blend designed to recreate an ideal year. Iteration No. 25 combines three strong vintages, built to balance maturity, freshness, and structure in a way that a single harvest rarely delivers on its own. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are used in equal proportion, which gives the wine both lift and depth. Chardonnay keeps everything precise and driven, while Pinot Noir fills out the mid palate and adds weight. The result is not about contrast, but alignment. What stands out is how layered the wine feels without becoming heavy. You get citrus and orchard fruit first, then a gradual shift into more developed notes like toasted almond, pastry, and a light honeyed character. Nothing arrives all at once, it builds in stages.
The older components in the blend bring a sense of calm to the structure. Instead of sharp edges, everything feels settled. The acidity is still there, but it works underneath the surface, holding the wine together rather than standing out. Texture is a key part of the experience. The mousse is very fine, and the wine moves smoothly across the palate with no breaks or sudden changes. It has more presence than a typical non vintage Champagne, but it stays controlled. What makes this cuvee distinctive is its balance of maturity and energy. It shows developed character, but still feels alive and precise rather than aged.
Tasting Notes
Nose:
Citrus, pear, and white peach lead, followed by toasted almond, pastry, and a light honey note.
Palate:
Layered and smooth. Orchard fruit and citrus transition into subtle toasted and nutty notes, with a refined, integrated texture.
Finish:
Long and composed. The freshness carries through, with lingering citrus, light toast, and a clean, steady close.
Background: To produce Laurent-Perrier's luxury cuvée, Bernard de Nonancourt decided to concentrate on two of the mainstays of Champagne’s know-how: the blending of different crus (wines from separate villages) and from different harvest years. The epitome of Champagne blending, Grand Siècle calls on wines from the finest growths and the very best harvests; years which have been declared as vintages by Laurent-Perrier. Made to be given or shared with friends and family, it is a very seductive Champagne, totally enjoyable. Grand Siècle is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with the latter being slightly dominant. The grapes are supplied by twelve of the most prestigious crus or villages, all of them Grands Crus classified at 100%, such as Ambonnay, Verzenay, Mailly, Avize, Cramant, Chouilly and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Within the vineyards of these crus, only the very best plots are selected, as are the finest musts from the pressings. The blended wine is then aged for about 5 years.
The bottle comes presented in a Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle Branded Gift Box.
