Laurent-Perrier Brut Millésimé 2012

Product Information:

Laurent-Perrier very rarely makes vintages, declaring less than one out of two years compared with the market average of over three out of four years the 2012 marks their 30th opus of this cuvée. This limited wine expresses the character of the year in the Laurent-Perrier style. The wine is white gold in colour with a fine sparkle. Nuanced white blossom aromas, with notes of citrus and white peaches. A wine that is very present with a lively attack and great finesse with good minerality and notes of grapefruit on the finish.

The 2012 Vintage is the choice of an exceptional year from which only a selection of the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Grands Crus (50-50) that will later 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 Chardonnay, makes up half of the blend, and is sourced from the villages of Le-Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Cramant and Chouilly. While the Pinot Noir which Fauconnet describes as very ‘powerful’, is sourced from five villages: Bouzy, Verzy, Aÿ, Mailly. For the first time in the history of this 2012 cuvée, contains a small amount of Rilly-la-Montagne, which is not a grand cru village.

Maker:

In 1812, André-Michel Pierlot, a former cooper and bottler from Chigny-les-Roses, established himself as a champagne merchant in Tours-sur-Marne, founding what would become Maison Laurent-Perrier. This Grand Cru village, strategically located at the intersection of three key vineyards, provided fertile ground for his enterprise. Pierlot passed the company to his son, Alphonse, who, lacking heirs, entrusted it to cellar master Eugène Laurent. After Laurent's untimely death in 1887, his widow, Mathilde-Emilie Perrier, took charge, introducing her "Grand Vin Sans Sucre" in 1889, catering to evolving tastes. In 1925, Eugénie-Hortense Laurent succeeded her mother but sold the estate in 1939.

Marie-Louise de Nonancourt acquired Domaine Laurent-Perrier during World War II. Her son Bernard, who joined the Resistance, returned to lead the company at just 28 after the war, transforming it into an industry innovator over four decades. Under his guidance, Laurent-Perrier became synonymous with freshness, elegance, and purity, exporting its champagnes to over 160 countries.

The company transitioned to a Management Board structure in 1999, spearheaded by Bernard and his daughters, ensuring a legacy of high standards and independence. With Michel Fauconnet as Cellar Master since 2004, the House maintains its commitment to quality, while Lucie Pereyre de Nonancourt joined in 2019, representing Grand Siècle and furthering Laurent-Perrier's innovative spirit

Philosophy: 
Its house style is known for its finesse and elegance, based around an emphasis on the Chardonnay variety in all but the rosé wines. Chardonnay accounts for 55 percent of the blend in La Cuvée (the renamed Brut Non-Vintage). By blending traditional Champagne practices with innovative winemaking techniques, the House produces a range of unique wines, each with its own story. Key to this style is the use of stainless steel vats, allowing for low-temperature fermentation that preserves the wine's freshness and aromatic complexity. The meticulous vinification process involves selecting the best grapes from renowned vineyards, including 17 Grands Crus and 42 Premiers Crus.

Each batch is vinified separately, enabling the Cellar Master to create harmonious blends that capture the essence of Laurent-Perrier. This dedication to quality is further reflected in their long ageing process, ensuring that each Cuvée is ready to enjoy upon release. Laurent-Perrier is also a pioneer in low-dosage wines, launching the "Grand Vin Sans Sucre" in 1889 and later the Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut in 1981. The House continues to lead with innovations like the Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature, reinforcing its commitment to producing champagnes that celebrate the balance between tradition and modernity.

Nose - Flinty, Citrus Blossoms, Croissants
Elegant array of lemons, slate, biscuits, oyster shells, croissants and brioche.

Palate - Yellow Plum, Lemon Curd, Wet Stone
Offering an energetic mousse with green apple, yellow plum, lemon curd, and wet stone.

Finish - Laser-like, Slate, Piercing Finish
A laser-like texture and a long and penetrating finish. It is an impressive wine that has richness alongside a tight mineral texture

A vintage that marks the producer’s 200th anniversary, the Champagne is ripe with mature white fruits. It is an impressive wine that has richness alongside a tight mineral texture. - Wine Enthusiast, 95 Points.

Elegant array of lemons, slate, biscuits, oyster shells, croissants and brioche. Precise and focused on the palate, with sharp acidity and tight, fine bubbles. Pure and youthful for now. 50% chardonnay and 50% pinot noir. Dosage 8g/L. - James Suckling, 94 Points.

The 2012 Champagne Brut is equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and has 8 grams per liter dosage. Since the 1950s, only 30 vintages have been produced by the house. The aromatics are reminiscent of a Burgundian feel, with pleasant flinty reduction, smoke, and vibrant green fruits of pear and citrus blossoms. Offering an energetic mousse with green apple, yellow plum, lemon curd, and wet stone, this wine is well-balanced and should continue to improve over the coming 15-20 years. Best after 2022. - Jeb Dunnuck, 94 Points.

With an energetic yet bright bouquet, the Laurent-Perrier 2012 possesses gorgeous aromas of orchard fruits, herbs, lemon and spices, with a hint of menthol. Calcareous on the palate, the structure is medium- to full-bodied, with a laser-like texture and a long and penetrating finish. It is undeniably one of the frank successes of the vintage, and while it has no need for further ageing, it may surprise us even further in the future. - Decanter, 93 Points.

The Finer Details
Style - Champagne
Varietal - 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir
Country - France
Region - Champagne
Vintage - 2012
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 12%
Closure - Cork