Laurent Perrier Champagne

With a bright, youthful appearance, Grand Siecle No 26 unfurls gradually to display crystalline, honeyed notes of candied peel, ginger and quince, with an understated scent of the seaside Bright, with needle-sharp definition on the palate: incredibly precise but neither hard nor hard work On the finish, it fans out to a peacock's tail of orange zest, lemon drizzle cake, ginger syrup, an umami richness like lobster bisque, and a tiny hint of grapefruit pith Going against received wisdom in Champagne, Laurent‑Perrier believes that the art of assemblage can offer what nature can never provide: the perfect vintage Grand Siecle is always a combination of three great vintages, and iteration No 26 combines 65% of 2012 with 25% 2008 and 10% 2007 The wine comes from specially selected plots within eight Grands Crus: 58% Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Cramand and Avise, and 42% Pinot Noir from Tours-sur-Marne, Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzy The bottled wine is aged on the lees for 10 years prior to finishing and release

Fresh and textured, with lemon-sharp acidity, this has a high proportion of Chardonnay, giving it a lemon biscuit nose and a sherbet finish

Crystal clear and bright Very fine and strong bead Intense and refined The aromas range from flowers (honeysuckle) to citrus and white fruit The overall impression is very fresh Light and delicate with surprising length Fruit, flower and mineral flavours mingle to give a wonderfully pure and crisp taste

Pale cherry-red in colour with a rich blackcurrant and raspberry nose The palate is elegant and lengthy, with soft, consistent bubbles, ripe red fruits such as raspberries and strawberries, and a clean, soft finish with a creamy texture

A strong vivid colour and delicate yet complex nose, indicating a relatively high proportion of Pinot Noir A mature style of non-vintage champagne with hints of citrus fruit, and a well balanced palate