1. What is Laurent Perrier Rose?
Laurent-Perrier Rosé Champagne is made using the saignée method, where the juice is left in contact with the grape skins for a short period, resulting in the wine's pink colour.
Laurent-Perrier Rosé was first created in 1968, making it one of the earliest rosé champagnes on the market.
The champagne is also popular in the fashion industry and has been featured in several fashion campaigns and events, including the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
2. Why is the Rosé NV champagne in a different shaped bottle from the normal champagne?
The Laurent-Perrier's elegant bottle shape was designed by French sculptor André Ricard.
André Ricard, born in 1929 in Barcelona, Spain, was a renowned industrial designer and sculptor. He trained at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and later established his own design studio in Barcelona. Ricard's design philosophy was to create functional objects that were also aesthetically pleasing. He is considered one of the pioneers of 20th-century design in Spain and was responsible for many innovative designs throughout his career.
Ricard designed the iconic Barcelona chair in 1989, which has become one of the most recognizable pieces of furniture in the world. It was originally created for the German Pavilion at the International Exhibition held in Barcelona that same year.
The elegant shape of the bottle that Ricard designed reflects his trademark style of combining form and function to create beautiful objects. The bottle's graceful curves and delicate proportions make it a work of art that can be displayed in any home.
It is also available in a limited-edition gift box designed by British designer Tracy Emin.
3. Is Laurent-Perrier Rosé a good champagne?
Laurent-Perrier Rosé is generally regarded as a very good champagne and is highly recommended by wine critics. It is known for its delicate, fruity flavour and elegant pink hue. Laurent-Perrier was founded in 1812, and as a well-respected champagne house, has been producing fine champagne ever since.
The champagne has won numerous awards and accolades, including the Gold Medal at the International Wine Challenge in 2019.
Regular good customer reviews indicate it is a firm favourite with the buyers, as well as its industry accolades. Laurent-Perrier Rosé is produced in limited quantities each year, making it a highly sought-after and exclusive champagne.
4. What does Cuvée mean?
Cuvée is a French term used to refer to a blend of different wines or grape varieties, often of exceptional quality. The word cuvée comes from the French word "cuve" which means vat, and it refers to the container where the wine is fermented or aged.
Cuvées are often associated with high-quality wines, as the blending process allows winemakers to create a wine that is greater than the sum of its parts. The careful selection of grapes and the blending process can result in a wine that has more depth, complexity, and nuance compared to a single-varietal wine.
In addition to blending different grape varieties, cuvées can also be made by blending wines from different vintages. This technique, known as non-vintage cuvée, allows winemakers to maintain a consistent style and quality year after year, regardless of variations in weather conditions.
The term cuvée is not only used in the context of sparkling wines, such as Champagne, but also in still wines. In Champagne production, cuvée refers to the first pressing of grapes, which is considered the highest quality. This first pressing produces a base wine that is then aged and used as the foundation for the final Champagne blend.
Overall, the term cuvée signifies a wine or blend that has been carefully crafted to showcase the best qualities of the grapes or wines involved. It represents a tradition of excellence and craftsmanship in winemaking.
It is often used on labels to indicate that the wine is a special blend, selected from the best vineyards or barrels, or made using a special production method.
5. What grapes are in Laurent-Perrier Rosé brut champagne?
The champagne is a blend of Pinot Noir grapes, which give the wine its structure and depth, and Chardonnay grapes, which provide finesse and elegance. Additionally, some champagnes may also include a small percentage of Pinot Meunier grapes, which contribute fruitiness and roundness to the wine. The specific blend of these varieties, as well as the ageing process and dosage (the addition of sugar and wine before corking) ultimately determines the style and flavour profile of the champagne.
During the winemaking process of Laurent-Perrier Rosé Champagne, the grapes are harvested and gently pressed to extract their juices. Rather than immediately separating the juice from the grape skins, the saignée method is employed. This technique involves allowing the grape juice to remain in contact with the skins for a brief period, typically a few hours to a couple of days.
This skin contact allows the juice to extract colour, flavour compounds, and tannins from the grape skins, resulting in a pink hue. The longer the contact, the deeper the colour of the wine. After this maceration period, the juice is separated from the skins and fermentation begins.
Once the fermentation is complete, the base wine is blended with a proportion of red wine, commonly Pinot Noir, which adds further depth and complexity to the final blend. The addition of red wine allows the winemaker to achieve the desired colour and style of the rosé champagne.
To preserve the freshness and elegance, Laurent-Perrier's Rosé Champagne is aged for a minimum of three years in their cellars, allowing the flavours to develop and integrate. This lengthy ageing process enhances the wine's character and contributes to its refined taste.
Overall, the saignée method used in the production of Laurent-Perrier Rosé Champagne imparts delicate pink colouration, showcasing the skilful craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into creating this renowned champagne.
6. Is Laurent-Perrier Rosé a Vintage or Non-Vintage champagne?
Laurent Perrier Rosé is a non-vintage champagne, and this is often shown by the use of NV in the description of a champagne i.e. NV champagne.
There is no official age category for champagne. However, in general, champagne can be classified based on the amount of time it has spent ageing on the lees (dead yeast cells).
The most common classifications are:
- Non-vintage (NV): Champagne made from a blend of different vintages and usually aged for at least 15 months on the lees.
- Vintage: Champagne made from a single vintage and aged for at least 3 years on the lees.
- Prestige cuvée: Champagne made from the best grapes and aged for at least 5 years on the lees.
- Blanc de Blancs: Champagne made only from white grapes (Chardonnay) and aged for at least 3 years on the lees.
- Blanc de Noirs: Champagne made only from black grapes (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier) and aged for at least 3 years on the lees.
The ageing process gives champagne its characteristic flavours and aromas, and also affects its price. Older champagnes tend to be more complex and expensive.
7. Is Laurent-Perrier Rosé sweet or dry?
Laurent Perrier Cuvee Rose is generally considered to be a dry rose champagne.
The terms used to describe how sweet or dry champagne is are:
- Brut Nature or Ultra Brut - Bone Dry
- Extra Brut - Very Dry
- Brut - Dry
- Extra Dry or Extra Sec - Off-Dry
- Sec - Medium Sweet
- Demi-Sec - Sweet
- Doux - Very Sweet.
8. What does Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé taste like?
It has a pale salmon pink colour and a delicate bouquet of strawberries, raspberries, and redcurrants.
On the palate, it is fresh, crisp and lively with a good balance of acidity and fruitiness, and a light touch of creaminess. The finish is long and complex, with notes of fresh berries, and a hint of spice. This champagne is ideal as an apéritif or paired with light, delicate dishes such as shellfish, smoked salmon, charcuterie or even dessert.
Overall, it is a light and refreshing champagne with a delicate fruity character and lingering sparkle, making it a popular champagne for celebrations and special occasions.
9. Why is Laurent-Perrier Rosé more expensive than Laurent Perrier champagne?
There are several reasons why Laurent-Perrier Rosé is more expensive than their regular champagne:
- Production process: The initial wine is made using the saignée method, where the juice is left in contact with the skins of black grapes for a short period of time, giving it its distinctive pink colour. This is a more elaborate process than making regular champagne, which only uses white grapes.
- Rarity: The production of rosé is limited, making it a more exclusive product.
- Ageing: Rosé is aged for at least four years, which enhances its complex flavours and aromas.
- Brand appeal: Laurent-Perrier is a highly respected brand in the champagne industry, and its rosé is particularly popular among wine connoisseurs, which drives up its price.
Overall, Laurent-Perrier Rosé champagne has been widely acknowledged as a premium product that requires more time, effort, and expertise to produce than regular champagne, which explains its higher price point.
10. Where can I buy Laurent-Perrier Rosé?
Laurent Perrier Rose can be purchased at various wine warehouses, online wine retailers, some supermarkets and here at Just Champagne. It is also available for purchase on the official Laurent Perrier website. It is recommended to check with retailers to ensure availability and pricing.