Perrier-Jouët : Grand Brut

Yeast, toast and bread dough characterize the austere but complex nose on this finely crafted wine. It's quite dry, with impressions of earth, mineral, toast, and just the barest hint of lime. Quite full-bodied, it could even improve with a year or so in the bottle.

Perrier-Jouet’s NV Grand Brut is a very pleasant, mid-weight Champagne that shows lovely complexity. Suggestions of smoke, roasted nuts and light honey add character to a generous core of ripe yellow fruit. The wine offers excellent overall balance and a poised finish. This is Lot L2070809871, disgorged November 17, 2007. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012. Importer: Pernod Ricard USA, Purchase, NY; tel. (914) 848-4743

A silky Champagne with aromas of apricot pie, shortcrust, croissants, lemon curd and seashells. Very fine, soft bubbles. Gentle salinity beneath the pastry notes, with a soft finish. Chardonnay. Drink now.

High-pitched aromas of lemon and chalk. Brisk mousse. Juicy and intensely flavored but rather easygoing, with moderate dosage and harmonious acidity. Offers intriguing red fruit hints of maraschino cherry and strawberry to go with citrus notes of lemon and mandarin orange. A second sample was crude and alcoholic, with virtually no flavor. My score is obviously for the better bottle.

Pale golden yellow with silver reflections and a fine, persistent mousse. Fresh white tropical fruit, some pineapple, a hint of lime zest and white flowers show on the nose. The palate has medium complexity, with notes of peach and a lively, animating acidity. There's a mineral touch and a hint of Earl Grey in the salty finish. (L2333065, PM).

Pale straw colour and a lively mousse. Quite classic in style with some complexity and maturity on the nose, nutty with pear, citrus and nougat aromas. The palate is well balanced, showing some maturity and finely toasted notes, balanced mousse, fresh acidity and a medium to long finish.

Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut NV is very floral and perfumed on the nose, with hints of butter biscuit and smoke; the light- to medium-bodied palate has a core of yellow orchard fruit complemented by soft acidity. It has a medium to long finish with notes of honey and smoke. Comprising 40% Pinot Meunier, 40% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay based on the 2019 vintage, it was aged for three years and includes 15% reserve wines up to five years old in the blend. Disgorged in December 2022 and finished with eight grams per liter dosage.

Comfortable breadth lifted by refreshing citrus zest aromas, fine bubbles, and a delectable, lingering finish.

Grand Brut is comfortable on the palate and is aimed at lovers of full-bodied wines with a pronounced dosage on the finish.