Blend: 55% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir
- #1 Wine of the Year 2023 - James Suckling (100 Points!!)
- #6 Cellar Selection of 2023 -Wine Enthusiast (97 Points!)
100 Points James Suckling
This is really something. Electric on the palate. The aromas are so complex with sliced fresh and dried ginger, subtle pie crust, tarte tatin and hints of nutmeg with some salted caramel. Toasted bread, too. Always subtle. The palate is full- to medium-bodied yet hemmed-in with a freshness and balance that draws you back. Savory and vibrant. It's full of energy. Spectacular. Fascinating. Symphonic blend of 2012, 2008 and 2007. 65% of the 2012, 25% of the 2008 and 10% of the 2007. Eight grand cru. Chardonnay 58% and 42% pinot noir. Disgorged February 2023. 10 years on the lees. 7g/L dosage
97 Points Wine Enthusiast
Tautly textured, the Champagne is delicious with a poise between white and citrus fruits along with touches of maturity coming through. Drink this magnificent wine now for its great balance and intensity.
97 Points Jeb Dunnuck
The NV Champagne Grand Siècle Iteration No. 26 is, as always, a blend from three vintages: 2012, 2008, and 2007. The blend is 58% Chardonnay and the remainder Pinot Noir. In the glass, it takes on a golden straw hue, with gorgeous fresh notes of ripe peach, quince, cherry blossoms, and fresh pastry dough. Medium to full-bodied, with an elegant and refined mousse and a lacy chalk texture, it’s a gorgeous expression that continues to evolve in the glass as it opens.
96 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Laurent-Perrier's imminently released NV Brut Grand Siècle #25 is showing beautifully, unwinding in the glass with an incipiently complex bouquet of pear, crisp stone fruit and mandarin mingled with hints of smoke, buttered toast and dried white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, layered and textural, with a fleshy core of fruit, terrific concentration and a racy spine of acidity, it's a deep, comparatively structured wine that will evolve beautifully in the cellar. As I've written before, this iteration is a blend of the 2008, 2007 and 2006 vintages, with 2008 lending #25 its depth and structure, 2007 contributing additional cut and 2006 additional richness. While the #25 exemplifies the seamless charm of this bottling, it's also one of the best propositions for long-term cellaring among recent renditions of Grand Siècle, and it will really reward time on cork.
96 Points Decanter
This iteration of Grand Siècle is almost entirely composed of two of Champagne's greatest recent vintages, so expectations are high. The wine more than meets them, tempering the generosity of 2012's fruit – ripe apricots, white peach, clementines and sunny, zesty citrus – with a pitch-perfect streak of 2008 tautness and structure. There are some fleshy, creamy notes of papaya and toasted white sourdough, but everything is as delicately rendered as expected and impeccably shaped, with a sleek, silky mousse. A little more approachable than Itération No. 25, it will welcome extended bottle age rather than demand it.
Winemaker Notes
Very pale gold in color with a fine and persistent sparkle and a steady stream of fine bubbles. Fresh, intense, and complex with notes of slightly candied citrus fruits, secondary aromas of pastries, toasted almonds, and subtle hints of honey and gingerbread. A fresh and delicate attack with an impression of fullness, the finish is persistent displaying Grand Siècle’s perfect balance between strength and delicacy.
Food Pairings
No. 25 Grand Siècle pairs with the most refined dishes, particularly noble fish and seafood such as lobster.
