Sparkling Wines Champagne Perrier-Jouët - Belle Epoque Rosé - 2012

Viniou Reviews

Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé 2012 is an exceptional Champagne, blending mainly Chardonnay, with Pinot Noir and a touch of Pinot Meunier, resulting in a luminous, delicate rosé of great refinement. Renowned for its pale salmon hue with coppery highlights, this vintage cuvée is a quintessential expression of Perrier-Jouët's signature style. The 2012 vintage benefited from a relatively cool, late-ripening season, producing grapes of excellent balance, tension, and aromatic complexity. Crafted using the méthode champenoise, the wine underwent an extended period of lees ageing, creating a nuanced palate profile combining notes of wild strawberries, pink grapefruit, blood orange, white flowers, brioche, and a precise, chalky mineral finish distinctive to the house.

The Champagne region, with its cool northern continental climate, is defined by chalky soils rich in minerals. These unique soil conditions lend natural acidity and finesse while enhancing aromatic purity in the wines. The origins of Champagne's viticulture can be traced back hundreds of years, with Perrier-Jouët founded in 1811 and celebrated for its focus on Chardonnay to create elegant, floral-driven Champagnes. The Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims vineyards championed in this blend are instrumental in delivering the freshness and ethereal style typical of Belle Epoque.

For food pairing, Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé 2012 excels with refined dishes. Its bright acidity and berry notes flatter delicate seafood such as tuna tartare, poached lobster with citrus butter, or carpaccio of scallops. It also makes a superb companion to tender veal or duck breast with berry reduction, while the gentle effervescence and touch of sweetness work beautifully with a raspberry macaron or fraisier for dessert. For a local touch, try it alongside a poultry dish with creamy Champagne sauce.

This Champagne should be enjoyed well chilled, ideally between 9-11°C, to express its vibrant aromas and fine bubbles. To fully appreciate its bouquet, use a tulip-shaped glass rather than a narrow flute. The Belle Epoque 2012 is ready to drink now but has the potential to evolve gracefully over the next five years, revealing even greater intricacy with time.