Laurent-Perrier : Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature

Crackling with chiseled acidity and a racy streak of minerality, this tightly meshed Champagne carries flavors of crunchy pear, white peach, oyster shell and pastry dough, plus accents of white blossoms, lemon pith and ground ginger on the refined, lively mousse. Salty on the lasting finish. Best from 2026 through 2031.

Airy, bright and fresh, like freshly squeezed citrus and white bread. Lightly smoky, apricot and mandarin with beautifully integrated pastry notes. Razor-sharp citrus and turbo-charged acidity give way to a focused, balanced and confident finish.

A dense and flavorful chardonnay with creamy texture and flavor. Lots of citrus and grapefruit and very vinous. A blanc de blancs with weight yet freshness. Pure chardonnay with no dosage. A new wine. Lovely finish. 40% 2009 and 60% 2012. Drink now.

Light greenish yellow with silver reflections and a delicate, fine-pearled mousse. Nuances of green apple, a hint of lime zest and some smoky-mineral aspects make for an inviting bouquet. Tightly woven on the palate with a core of fine yellow stone fruit and mango creating a velvety core, backed by a fresh acidity and chalky-salty finish. A versatile, energetic style. (PM).

A palette that opens with notes of finely reduced Chardonnay, a subtle toast, and a hint of lactic character as well.

A nose that is both lively and delicate, opening with clear, caressing aromas of madeleine and brown sugar, refreshed by the sensation of burying your nose in a bouquet of flowers after the rain. On the palate, notes of lemon and a saline touch balance out a subtly present mousse.

A new cuvée from Laurent-Perrier, the inaugural NV Blanc de Blancs Nature represents the first time this house, for all its emphasis on Chardonnay, has ever released a blanc de blancs. Offering up aromas of citrus fruit, green apple, oyster shell and warm bread, the wine is medium to full-bodied, lively and precise, with a bright spine of ripe acidity and a delicately chalky finish. It's a blend of the 2012 and 2013 vintages with reserve wine from 2009, and chef de cave Michel Fauconnet told me that he had sought precision from the Chardonnay of the Montagne de Reims and texture from that of the Côte de Blancs.

The NV Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs was exclusively picked in both the Blanc de Blancs and the Montagne de Reims and spent at least eight years on lees. Lemon, oatmeal and smoke meet against a backdrop of chalk on the nose. The palate hits a serene soprano note of exquisite purity and lightness, always with that smokiness, exquisite tautness and beautifully fine foam made up of thousands of tiny bubbles that mollify this essentially pure and clean-cut wine. Blanc de Blancs lovers should listen up. This is gorgeous now but has a long life ahead. Zero dosage. (Lot LP43UK11524E) - Anne Krebiehl MW

Always produced on a Chardonnay base, typically the dominant grape, Laurent-Perrier had never made a wine that was 100% Chardonnay until 2019, when the house finally had the right components and decided to release it as non-dosage. Bright yellow sherbet in color, the NV Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature is among the house’s first non-dosage releases. Medium-bodied, it’s airy and fresh yet retains a pure, concentrated core of white citrus, lemon peel, salted pineapple, lemon-lime and meringue. Chalky in texture, it offers an energetic, frothy mousse and a vibrant feel across the palate, driven by mineral intensity and the influence of Tours-sur-Marne, Villers-Marmery and Rilly, which lend the wine its versatility. It shows a touch of bitter citrus in a clean, crisp style, making it a highly versatile Blanc de Blancs. This cuvée is not produced every year; it comes from riper vintages with lower acidity, so it is not a regular part of the range. It includes a large proportion of reserve wines, with 60% based on 2016 and 40% on 2014. Drink 2026–2040.

Reflecting this producer's predilection for dry Champagnes, this wine is crisp, with minerality and tight citrus fruits. The wine is beautifully textured, needing a few more months in bottle. Drink from 2024.