Perrier-Jouët : Belle Epoque Millésimé Limited Edition Iris Van Herpen 2018

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Belle Epoque Millésimé Limited Edition Iris Van Herpen 2018 by Perrier-Jouët

Tasting

Colour

The colour is a beautiful, luminous golden hue.

Nose

The fresh, inviting first nose stands out for its subtle floral aromas of chamomile and lightly spiced rose. The palette gradually builds with rich, indulgent notes of vineyard peach and mirabelle plum, enhanced by hints of toasted bread and vanilla.

Palate

The ample, velvety texture reveals a harmonious structure, at once linear and refined. The lively, delicate finish is elevated by a touch of Timut pepper and citrus zest.

Serving and cellaring

As an aperitif, the Belle Epoque 2018 is best served between 8 and 10°C. At the table, a temperature of around 12°C will allow its full aromatic richness to unfold.

A limited edition celebrating the style and elegance of the House of Perrier-Jouët

The estate

Founded in 1811 in Épernay by Pierre Nicolas Perrier and Rose Adélaïde Jouët, the House of Perrier-Jouët has established itself as an institution in Champagne. Owned by the Pernod Ricard group since 2005, it cultivates 65 hectares of vines concentrated in the Grands Crus of Champagne, including nearly 40 hectares of Chardonnay sourced mainly from Cramant and Avize. This predominant place of Chardonnay lends its champagnes a distinctive floral elegance. Official supplier to the English Court from 1861, the House has made its name notably with its Belle Époque cuvée, launched in 1964, recognisable by its Art Nouveau bottle adorned with Japanese anemones designed by Émile Gallé.

The vineyard

The grapes for this cuvée come from emblematic terroirs of the Champagne region: Cramant, Avize, Chouilly, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Mailly and Vertus. The Pinot Noir grapes are meticulously selected from the chalky soils of Verzy and Mailly-Champagne, while the Chardonnay grapes come from the renowned Côte des Blancs.

The cuvée

An exclusive collaboration between the House of Perrier-Jouët and designer Iris van Herpen has given rise to a unique edition of Belle Epoque champagne. Through a creative dialogue, Iris van Herpen and Cellar Master Séverine Frerson shared their sensibilities around plant textures and their influence on the taste experience. Inspired by this exchange, Séverine Frerson created a bespoke dosage liqueur, designed to elevate the floral, textured nuances of the 2018 vintage. This collaboration takes shape in a dedicated edition combining exclusive packaging for the bottle and gift box with a tailored dosage liqueur. The dosage is 8 g/L.

The vintage

The year 2018 was marked by a mild, rainy winter, followed by a spring with above-average seasonal temperatures. Heavy rains between mid-April and mid-May put the vines to the test, before the return of fine weather in late spring provided favourable conditions for flowering. The hot, dry summer gave this vintage a luminous, sunny character. This dry spell continued into autumn, with high but well-controlled temperatures.

Grape varieties

50% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 5% Meunier.