One of my oldest (and favourite) traditions is springing for a decent bottle of proper Champagne for New Years Eve. Previous inductees have included the absolutely divine Pol Roger and the very-good-for-its-price Taittinger. Nearly a decade ago, it even included a different L-P — the 2004 Vintage. But this year I was going for the classic, beloved Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut Champagne.
I got this particular bubbly lodged in my craw after an ex-boss of mine waxed poetic about it as her go-to bottle. And frankly, based on her assessment of other finery, I was inclined to take a Champagne recommendation or two. So when a stack of Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut crossed my path while shopping for Christmas booze, it became the natural choice for this recent NYE.
This wine is a blend of different grape varieties, mainly Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The grapes are carefully selected from the best vineyards in the region, and the wine is made using only the first pressing of the grapes, known as the “cuvée.” This gives it a unique taste and character and sets it apart from other champagnes on the market.
Bosses’ opinions and marketing schpiel aside, here’s what I thought:
Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut Champagne Review
I had the pleasure of sharing this bottle with my forever-tasting partner (Christine) and a couple of close friends. Naturally, while everyone was trying to get a buzz on I was pestering them for notes. Despite a distinct lack of enthusiasm, everyone participated and the results were remarkably consistent.
I’m about to describe tasting notes that look like an AI had been prompted to “describe the flavour of Champagne.” Because Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut is like, the archetype of “champagne”. It pours an extremely pale gold, with vibrant effervescence . On the nose, L-P oozes bright lemon, yeast, and a hint of ozone.
This wine definitely puts the bubbles in bubbly. It’s practically tingly to sip, in a good way. The lemon on the nose gets bigger, and is joined by green apple, a bit of fresh bread and a nice finish of stone and pear that lingers. I know — these aren’t ground breaking tasting notes. Honestly, part of me was tempted to throw in a “pencil lead” or some other nonsense, but Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut Champagne really is absolutely true to the characteristics of classic Champagne.
Does that make it boring? No. Frankly, its balance was exceptional and it struck all the chords I wanted it to strike, at a pretty reasonable price compared to comparable (or vintage) champagnes. If you’re looking for a Champagne that really tastes like Champagne, Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut is definitely worth sipping slow.
8.9 Score
Final Verdict
Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut Champagne is a well-balanced bubbly that hits all the notes you'd expect from this famous french region, all at a decent price point.