1999 Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque

The 1999 Brut Fleur de Champagne Cuvee Belle Epoque comes across as sweeter and softer than the 2000, with generous honeyed notes of apricots and flowers. The wine shows plenty of length, with pretty notes of sweetness that linger on the finish. The 1999 is 50% Chardonnay from Grand Crus in the Cote des Blancs, 45% Pinot Noir from Mailly, Verzenay and Verzy in the Montagne de Reims. Disgorged on November 6th, 2007. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2016. Perrier-Jouet is a large producer based in Epernay that is most famous for its striking “flower bottle” which remains one of Champagne’s most recognizable designs. The house favors a perceptibly sweet style, with dosage levels that are towards the high end of the range for the region. Few producers make it harder than Perrier-Jouet to discern a lot number. Readers will have to look in the punt of the bottles for the small, raised code which can then be traced back to a disgorgement date. Surely there must be a more consumer-friendly way to do things. Importer: Pernod Ricard USA, Purchase, NY; tel. (914) 848-4743

Pale straw with a lively bead. Musky yellow plum and cling peach aromas are complicated by nutmeg and dried flowers. Broad and fleshy, with powerful pit fruit and cherry pit flavors and a slightly bitter citrus pith grip. An earthy, weighty, serious style of Champagne, in need of rich food.

Slightly pink tinge – so definitely not the 1999 Blanc de Blancs described here. Fully evolved and headily perfumed – lots of Pinot? Sweet and flattering and rather pungent. Nice drink – very flattering, Requires no effort at all! Neat, quite powerful finish. (JR)