Perrier-Jouët : Belle Epoque Rosé 2006

The indulgence and power of an exceptional rosé champagne by Perrier-Jouët

The estate

The Perrier-Jouët Champagne House was founded in 1811 by Pierre Perrier and his wife, Adèle Jouët. Produced from exceptional Champagne wine terroirs (Ay, Mailly-Champagne, Avize and Cramant), the house’s cuvées are renowned for their unique style, which mixes aromatic richness, sophistication and subtlety. Perrier-Jouët became Queen Victoria’s official champagne in 1861, then that of the French Imperial Court.

Owned by the Champagne company, GH Mumm, since 1959, the Perrier-Jouët House particularly stands out through the iconic bottle of its prestigious cuvée "Belle Époque", devised by Émile Gallé in 1969.

The wine

Produced in limited quantities and only during exceptional vintages, the Belle Époque Rosé cuvée by Perrier-Jouët is made from a blend of iconic terroirs in Cramant, Avize, Aÿ, Mailly and Dizy.

The Belle Époque Rosé 2006 cuvée by Perrier-Jouët is adorned with Japanese white flowers, anemones, a motif created for the house in 1902 by Émile Gallé, a master of Art Nouveau.

The vintage

A cold and dry winter was followed by a mild spring, which frosts did not affect the house’s vineyards. The start of summer was particularly hot and punctuated by sporadic rainy spells. While August was marked by coolness and gloomy weather, the hot and dry conditions in September were perfect for the grapes to reach full maturity.

Winemaking and ageing

Manual harvests. Alcoholic fermentation in thermoregulated stainless steel vats, followed by malolactic fermentation. This champagne can be recognised by its light peach colour. This uniqueness stems from a red wine production where a small proportion of Pinot Noir is macerated between the clear juices and their skins. This vintage, which dosage is 8g/litre, enjoys at least 6 years of ageing in the house’s chalk cellars.

Blend

The Belle Époque Rosé 2006 by Perrier-Jouët is made from a blend of Chardonnay (50%), Pinot Noir (45%) and Pinot Meunier (5%).

Tasting

Colour

The wine is a beautiful light pink with orange highlights. The effervescence is lively and delicate.

Nose

The nose combines fragrances of red fruits (currant, raspberry, pomegranate), blood orange and grapefruit, as well as subtle notes of nuts, brioche, honey and caramel.

Palate

A lively and fresh attack gives way to a generous palate which harmoniously combines power with the purity of the fruit. The finish is persistent and has a great finesse.

Food and wine pairings

The Belle Époque Rosé 2006 by Perrier-Jouët goes perfectly with lobster, scampi, game (goose, pigeon), or even fruity desserts such as a charlotte cake or a red fruit pavlova.