2004 Champagne Laurent-Perrier, Alexandra, Grande Cuvée Rosé, Brut
Critics reviews
William Kelley - 30/04/2019
About this WINE
Laurent Perrier
Laurent Perrier was founded by André Michel Pierlot in 1812 but it is the Nonancourt family who made it the famous Champagne house it is today. Bernard de Nonancourt created Laurent-Perrier’s house style centred on freshness, finesse and elegance. Lucie Pereyre is now the 4th generation dedicated to Grand Siècle.
Laurent-Perrier believe that only assemblage can offer what nature cannot: the perfect year. Thus, Grand Siècle was born. The vintage years chosen for Grand Siècle are selected carefully by the Cellar Master. The ageing differs according to the iteration and the format.
Rose Champagne
Rosé wines are produced by leaving the juice of red grapes to macerate on their skins for a brief time to extract pigments (natural colourings). However, Rosé Champagne is notable in that it is produced by the addition of a small percentage of red wine – usually Pinot Noir from the village of Bouzy – during blending.
Recommended Producers : Billecart Salmon (Elizabeth Salmon Rose), Ruinart
Champagne Blend
Which grapes are included in the blend, and their proportion, is one of the key factors determining the style of most Champagnes. Three grapes are used - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.
26% of vineyards in Champagne are planted with Chardonnay and it performs best on the Côtes des Blancs and on the chalk slopes south of Epernay. It is relatively simple to grow, although it buds early and thus is susceptible to spring frosts. It produces lighter, fresher wines than those from Burgundy and gives finesse, fruit and elegance to the final blend. It is the sole grape in Blancs de Blancs, which are some of the richest long-lived Champagnes produced.
Pinot Noir accounts for nearly 40% of the plantings in Champagne and lies at the heart of most blends - it gives Champagne its body, structure, strength and grip. It is planted across Champagne and particularly so in the southern Aube district.
The final component is Pinot Meunier and this constitutes nearly 35% of the plantings. Its durability and resistance to spring frosts make the Marne Valley, a notorious frost pocket, its natural home. It ripens well in poor years and produces a soft, fruity style of wine that is ideal for blending with the more assertive flavours of Pinot Noir. Producers allege that Pinot Meunier lacks ageing potential, but this does not deter Krug from including around 15% of it in their final blends.
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Description
Disgorged in 2012 after eight years sur lattes, the 2004 Brut Alexandra Grande Cuve Ros has really begun to develop some complexity after seven years on cork. Salmon-pink in hue, the wine wafts from the glass with a beautiful bouquet of blood orange, iodine, dried rose petals, aromatic bitters and tangerine. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, pure and racy, with a delicate pinpoint mousse, good concentration at the core and a long, saline finish. Readers who have had the foresight to cellar a few bottles should pop a cork or two, as this ros is showing brilliantly.
William Kelley - 30/04/2019
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