Laurent Perrier 1996 - Brut Vintage - Champagne

Laurent-Perrier Brut Vintage 1996 - The Icon of the 90s

The 1996 Vintage: Tension and Longevity

The 1996 vintage is considered by many to be one of Champagne's greatest, characterized by a rare combination: exceptional ripeness and very high acidity. This contrast results in wines of phenomenal concentration and tension. Laurent-Perrier's 1996 Brut Millésimé is a faithful expression of this vintage, offering a backbone of great minerality and an aromatic depth that is only just beginning to unfold.

The Laurent-Perrier House Style

Laurent-Perrier is renowned for its style focused on freshness, finesse, and elegance. Even in a vintage as powerful as 1996, the House managed to preserve its DNA, producing a wine that has aged brilliantly. This champagne is composed of a balanced blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, sourced exclusively from the finest Grands Crus and Premiers Crus vineyards.

Tasting Notes: Complex and Mature Freshness

After nearly three decades in the cellar, this champagne reveals a fascinating complexity:

• Appearance: Intense golden yellow, with brilliant reflections, the bubbles are fine and persistent.
• Nose: Complex and evolving, it opens with aromas of dried fruit (almond, hazelnut), gingerbread, acacia honey, white truffle and toasted brioche, typical of the evolution of Chardonnay.
• Palate: Precise attack, dominated by the crisp, vibrant acidity that is the hallmark of the 1996. The wine is incredibly long and structured, with a mineral and saline finish. A rare freshness for its age.

Exceptional condition for his age

This bottle of Laurent-Perrier 1996 is in ideal condition:

• Level and Colour: The wine level is perfect and the colour is brilliant, guaranteeing the absence of premature oxidation.
• Label: The label is slightly aged, evidence of a long stay in the cellar, but it is legible and does not alter the quality of the wine in any way.

Food & Wine Pairings and Serving Suggestions

Serve at around 8°C. The intensity and complexity of this wine call for elegant food pairings:

• Truffled poultry (poularde).
• Mushroom risotto.
• Fine fish prepared (turbot or monkfish).
• Comté or aged Parmigiano.