2012 Champagne Laurent Perrier Vintage

''In 1881, when Cellar Master Eugène Laurent inherited the Alphonse Pierlot Champagne House, he provided it with the essential foundations required to produce great champagnes, namely the houses and land to create a fully-fledged estate. He purchased vines in the very best terroirs of Bouzy, Tours-sur-Marne, and Ambonnay, excavated 800 metres of cellars, and set up a tasting laboratory. That is how the Domaine Laurent-Perrier (the Estate) was anchored in Tours-sur-Marne. This picturesque village is ideally situated at the crossroads of the three main wine growing areas of the Marne departement: the Montagne de Reims, the Vallee de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs. It is also part of the 17 Champagne villages ranking in the prestigious ˜Grand Cru' area.''

Grape varietals:

• Chardonnay 50%
• Pinot Noir 50%

Crus:

• Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Cramant, Chouilly.
• Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims: Bouzy, Ay, Verzy, Mailly, Rilly-la-Montagne.

The Vintage is the choice of an exceptional year from which only a selection of the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Grands Crus will enter into a future iteration of Grand Siècle. It is a rare and outstanding wine that expresses the character of the year in the Laurent-Perrier style.

The year 2012 is characterized by successive climatic incidents. Firstly there is the winter frost that makes the vine more sensitive. Then comes the spring frost as well as a dozen hail storms causing considerable damage and affecting many areas of the vineyard. Finally a violent thunderstorm accompanied by strong hail breaks out on the 7th of June and destroys large land areas in the surrounding villages. In spite of these climatic incidents the dry, sunny summer allowed for an exceptional ripening of the grapes.