What is a Brut Nature Champagne?

The 18th century, Champagne was often served very sweet, with some bottles exceeding 100 grams of sugar per liter. This matched contemporary tastes, when sweet wines were popular at dessert or afternoon tea.

During the 19th century, dosage gradually lightened. In 1889, Laurent-Perrier launched a Grand Vin Sans Sucre for British clients, marking a shift towards freshness and subtlety. Over time, styles became increasingly refined, culminating in the 1980s with the creation of Brut Nature. Laurent-Perrier pioneered this category in 1981 with Ultra Brut, followed by the official establishment of Extra Brut and Brut Nature in 1985 and 1996, respectively.

Initially appealing to a small group of connoisseurs, this sparkling wine style has become a modern trend, appreciated for its dry, precise, and elegant character across France, Europe, and the US.

Dosage refers to the addition of liqueur d’expédition (a mix of cane sugar and reserve wine) after disgorgement, to balance the Champagne.

Brut Nature Champagne: less than 3 g/L residual sugar, with no sugar added during dosage.

In comparison:
– Extra Brut: less than 6 g/L
– Brut: less than 12 g/L
– Demi-Sec: 32 to 50 g/L

Brut Nature is therefore the purest and driest style, leaving all the room for the raw material: the wine itself.

Extra Brut has emerged as a compromise style: dry enough to highlight purity and minerality, but with a small dosage that softens the edges, making it slightly more approachable. It can be almost as dry as a Brut Nature (0 g/L) but slightly rounder, depending on the dosage chosen.

This range offers the Houses stylistic freedom, allowing them to adapt the profile of the wine to each vintage and each blend.

• Without added sugar, this cuvée showcases:
• – Mineral tension and sharp freshness
• – Precise aromatic notes: citrus, white flowers, white-fleshed fruits, and chalky nuances
• – Verticality and clarity, making it a lively and straightforward sparkling wine
  
• Its taut profile requires meticulous vinification, as no dosage will mask imperfections.

• This pure style is prized for aromatic precision and freshness. Ideal pairings include:
• – Seafood and shellfish: oysters, sea urchins, raw scallops, caviar
• – Raw or lightly cooked fish: carpaccio, sashimi, sushi, grilled sole
• – Cheeses: Parmesan, aged Comté
• – Contemporary cuisine: minimalist dishes emphasizing purity and subtle flavors
  
• The sharpness of this sparkling wine enhances the natural flavors of the ingredients, making it perfect for refined events or gourmet experiences.

Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut

Launched in 1981, Ultra Brut is a true pioneer. Made from fully mature grapes with perfectly balanced acidity, it receives no dosage. It embodies Laurent‑Perrier’s pioneering vision, revealing a Champagne of crystalline purity, with white flower and citrus aromas, ideal for lovers of straight and airy wines.

Laurent-Perrier Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature

Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature expresses the quintessence of Chardonnay. Its freshness, mineral tension, and elegance make it an exceptional Champagne, perfectly suited for lovers of unadorned cuvées. It pairs wonderfully with seafood, sashimi, or refined haute cuisine dishes.

Brut Nature and Extra Brut Champagnes embody a modern and bold vision of Champagne, centered on purity, freshness, and authentic terroir expression.

– Brut Nature appeals to purists seeking uncompromising, straight wines.
– Extra Brut offers a subtle balance between tension and approachability.

As the pioneer behind the Brut Nature category and with iconic cuvées such as Ultra Brut and Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature, Laurent‑Perrier stands out as a leading House in low‑dosage Champagne, offering precise, elegant, and timeless wines.