Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Vintage Champagne Extra-Brut

The cellar master recommends pairing this champagne with herb-roasted Bresse chicken served alongside Parmesan risotto, or creamy veal escalope seasoned with white pepper. Excellent recommendations, although this wine is versatile enough for many other pairings as well.

The 2018 vintage was an outstanding year in Champagne, marked by record levels of sunshine and warmth. The harvest was generous, with high sugar levels and relatively low acidity. Expectations are therefore high — especially under the guidance of Joseph Perrier’s cellar master Nathalie Laplaige. This wine is strongly Chardonnay-driven (81%), with grapes sourced from the villages of Bassuet, Chouilly, Avize, Cumières and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Pinot Noir (19%) adds structure and body, originating from Ambonnay and Sacy. The pedigree is impeccable. The wine was aged on lees for 84 months, while the dosage remains exceptionally low at 2 g/l.