Laurent-Perrier : Millésimes Réserves 2004

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Millésimes Réserves 2004 by Laurent-Perrier

Tasting

Appearance
This champagne displays a golden hue, enlivened by a ribbon of fine, persistent bubbles that reflects the quality of its craftsmanship.

Nose
The nose opens with notes of exotic fruit, such as candied pineapple, before giving way to nuances of jammy yellow fruit, notably mirabelle plum, which reflect the ripeness of the vintage.

Palate
The attack is ample and enveloping, carried by notes of white peach. The whole remains balanced and extends into a fresh, complex finish, both vinous and precise.

Food and Wine Pairing

This champagne is delightful as an aperitif or at the start of a meal. It pairs beautifully with delicate bites such as gougères or seafood tartlets, as well as white fish prepared as carpaccio or tartare. It also complements fine poultry draped in a light yellow fruit or citrus sauce.

Serving and Cellaring

Millésimes Réserves 2004 Laurent-Perrier is best served at a temperature of around 10 °C. It is offered in magnum format, which is particularly conducive to harmonious ageing and the gradual unfolding of its aromatic complexity.

Millésimes Réserves 2004, a Champagne from Tours-sur-Marne by Laurent-Perrier

The Estate

Founded in 1812 in Tours‑sur‑Marne, a village classified Grand Cru and located at the crossroads of the main Champagne vineyards, the House of Laurent-Perrier is now led by an Executive Board chaired since 2014 by Stéphane Dalyac, alongside Alexandra Pereyre de Nonancourt and Stéphanie Meneux de Nonancourt, daughters of Bernard de Nonancourt. Despite being publicly listed, the House has remained family-owned and independent, and has built a reputation as an innovator in Champagne, notably thanks to its mastery of reserve wines and zero-dosage champagnes. Today it shines in more than 160 countries.

The Vineyard

This cuvée comes from emblematic Grand Cru vineyards of Champagne, located in the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims. The Chardonnay comes from the villages of Avize, Cramant, Oger, Le Mesnil‑sur‑Oger and Chouilly, while the Pinot Noir comes from Verzy, Mailly, Verzenay, Aÿ and Bouzy, creating a dialogue between the chalky finesse of the Côte des Blancs and the clay-limestone structure of the Montagne de Reims.

The Vintage

The year 2004 proved favourable in Champagne, with a generous, healthy harvest that allowed for the creation of balanced wines with ageing potential. The Chardonnays of this vintage expressed fine aromatic potential, with notes of acacia blossom and citrus, while the Pinot Noirs showed great expressiveness, bringing structure and breadth to the blend.

Vinification and Ageing

Millésimes Réserves 2004 is produced in stainless steel tanks, with malolactic fermentation, which softens the acidity while preserving the freshness and purity of the fruit. Its presentation in magnum encourages slow, harmonious evolution, conducive to the development of complex nuances over time.

Grape Varieties

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay