Champagne Perrier-Jouët 200th Anniversary Celebrations Continue with the First Vertical Tasting of Belle Epoque in Jeroboams With World’s Leading Wine Experts in Epernay. As part of its 200th anniversary festivities, the House of Perrier-Jouët welcomed on the 16th and 17th some of the world’s leading champagne experts for an exclusive vertical tasting of its prestigious cuvee Belle Epoque in the most celebratory of formats: the Jeroboam.

Champagne Perrier-Jouët 200th Anniversary Celebrations Continue

Following Perrier-Jouët’s historic 2009 tasting which included the world’s oldest champagne Perrier-Jouët 1825 Vintage, Chef de Caves Hervé Deschamps was keen to explore a different dimension of the House’s cellars through a jeroboam tasting of 9 outstanding House vintages dating back to 1975, the year Perrier-Jouët introduced vintage champagne in jeroboam.

Hervé Deschamps explains: “the jeroboam is the traditional symbol of celebration in Champagne and our 200th anniversary was the perfect occasion to explore how these great vintages have evolved in larger bottles. Jeroboams offer an exceptional but slightly different experience from standard bottles, as a lower pressure together with a longer ageing on the lees gives rise to a more intense and richer aromatic wine.”

Champagne Perrier-Jouët 200th Anniversary Celebrations Continue

After toasting the Perrier-Jouët ‘s bicentenary with a glass of the legendary 1911 vintage in magnum, guests were served jeroboams of Belle Epoque 1998, 1996, 1995, 1990, 1989, 1985, 1982, 1978, and 1975. The blend of these Cuvees remained the same, true to the Perrier-Jouët’s signature style, made of 50% Chardonnay from Grands Crus as Cramant & Avize, 45% of Pinot Noir from Mailly, Verzy, Verzenay and 5% Pinot Meunier from Dizy.

British wine expert Serena Sutcliffe MW commented: “What’s interesting with Jeroboams is that the wine presents better, as the senses are less dominated by the carbonic gas. One finds more ‘vinosity’ and greater roundness: I was delighted to discover the wine itself.”

Champagne Perrier-Jouët 200th Anniversary Celebrations Continue

The 1985 and 1975 vintages were hailed as highlights; with the jeroboam of Belle Epoque 1985 recorded by one expert as “simply sensational with a long life ahead” and the 1975 vintage described as “the ultimate expression and achievement of Belle Epoque; mellow, harmonious, and with an incredible sweetness.”

All the champagnes tasted were the creation of André Baveret and Hervé Deschamps, only the sixth and seventh cellar masters respectively in the 200-year history of Perrier-Jouët and their achievement in balancing perfectly the diversity of each vintage’s individual character with Perrier-Jouët signature style, as a tribute of an expertise passed on over two centuries.

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Cheers!