Introduction: For the end of year celebrations, Laurent-Perrier offers hedonists, champagne lovers and expert hosts, the new Grand Siecle limited edition: Soleil / Sun Robe Grand Siecle: Launched in 1959, Grand Siecle is Laurent-Perrier’s Prestige Cuvée, the prime example of the House’s exacting standards and know-how. Its unique style combining finesse, power and balance is the outcome of blending the very best grapes from the most prestigious crus in wines from the best Laurent-Perrier vintage years. Grand Siecle expresses the quintessence of Champagne and French refinement. In 1955, Bernard de Nonancourt conceived the idea of creating a Grande Cuvée that would cut across the conventions of the time, under which a prestige cuvée automatically had to be from a single vintage year. For him, Laurent-Perrier’s Grande Cuvée had to offer a unique style exemplifying the art of blending taken to the extreme: ‘The best of the best with the best,’ as he liked to say. The Champagne cuvée par excellence, Grand Siecle is a blend of wines from three great Laurent-Perrier vintage years made from the finest crus and grapes. The Grand Siecle style combines finesse, power and balance. Tasting Notes: Starry bright, with a brilliant yellow hue. This wine displays subtle hints of honey, hazelnuts, grilled almonds and fresh pastry make this a perfect wine to go with the finest dishes. Powerful and yet well-rounded, this wine is rich and savoury, finishing with a deliciously fresh touch. The length of its flavours is remarkable. Grand Siecle shows a unique and balanced combination of depth and finesse. Serve between 10 and 12C. Grape Variety: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with Chardonnay being the slightly dominant variety. Grand Siecle is produced from about twelve of the most prestigious villages,all of them Grands Crus classified at 100%, such as Ambonnay, Verzenay, Mailly, Avize, Cramant, Chouilly and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Within the vineyards of these crus, only the very best plots are selected, as are the finest musts from the pressings. The blended wine is then aged for about 5 years. Pairing with food: Complex and well-balanced, Grand Siecle contains all the ingredients to enable it to match a wide range of refined dishes. It would provide the perfect foil to poultry with truffles, or to veal with wild mushrooms. One could also try it with fish such as red mullet or sea-bass. For a magnificent start to a festive meal, serve it as an aperitif. From these Grand Cru villages, only the very best sites have been selected, and the best juices retained from the press. The blended wine is then aged for about five years. Background Information: To produce Laurent Perrier’s luxury cuvee, Bernard de Nonancourt decided to concentrate on two of the mainstays of Champagne’s know-how: the blending of different crus (wines from separate villages) and from different harvest years. The epitome of Champagne blending, Grand Siecle calls on wines from the finest growths and the very best harvests; years which have been declared as vintages by Laurent Perrier. Made to be given or shared with friends and family, it is a very seductive Champagne, totally enjoyable. Founded in 1812, Laurent Perrier has been avant-garde in creating unique and elegant Champagnes for nearly two hundred years making it one of the world’s most esteemed Champagne brands, and also the largest family-owned brand.