Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle Brut NV

Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle NV (Champagne, France)
$160, Cork
Winery Website

This comes in a rather extravagant, skinny necked, classic Champagne bottle, but the actual labelling itself hardly befits the price tag – a rather daggy, simple, plasticy paper label. A sign of what’s to come perhaps?

I’m a little conscious lately that I seem to be handing out quite negative reviews more than good ones. Am I getting jaded? Whatever is the case, this wine left me absolutely underwhelmed. A light yellow colour, with subdued citrus and lightly underplayed yeast characters, its a pretty and soft nose. The palate is soft, light and lacks focus, the acid a soft & only gives a late fillip in amongst the hidden talc & lemon, the finish watery and lacking in definition.

No intensity and not alot of promise, with noticeable deadening dosage, this tastes like an average non vintage and not a premium cuvee. Indeed plenty of Aussie cuvees, at half the price (like the 01 Arras) would comfortably put this away. Buy yourself two bottles of this bargain Drappier instead . 16.8