What is a prestige cuvée?

A Prestige Cuvée embodies the very essence of Champagne — a rare wine conceived as the ultimate expression of a House’s savoir-faire. Every stage, from the meticulous selection of grapes to the long years of aging in cellars, contributes to creating an exceptional wine that transcends time.

The Role of the Grape Varieties

The creation of a Prestige Cuvée is based on the three noble grape varieties of Champagne, blended with the utmost precision and care:

• — Chardonnay: the grape of finesse and elegance, bringing freshness, tension, minerality, and remarkable ageing potential. Its floral and citrus notes evolve into hints of brioche and hazelnut over time.
• — Pinot Noir: the grape of structure and power, giving the wine its depth, red fruit aromas, and backbone. It also provides great longevity.
• — Meunier: less common in Prestige Cuvées, it adds roundness and suppleness. When used, it completes the balance of the blend.

The Cellar Master’s role is to select the finest crus — often Grands Crus and Premiers Crus — and assemble them to achieve perfect harmony.

After the second fermentation in bottle — the stage that creates Champagne’s signature effervescence — the cuvées rest for many years in the darkness of the cellars. During this extended ageing period, a crucial process unfolds: yeast autolysis.

This slow transformation, which may last between five and fifteen years for a Prestige Cuvée, gradually releases aromatic and textural compounds. The wine gains in complexity, depth, and refinement:

• — Toasted bread, brioche, honey, and dried fruit aromas appear.
• — The texture becomes silkier and more velvety.
• — The effervescence softens into a fine, creamy, and persistent mousse.

This alchemy between wine, time, and yeast grants a Prestige Cuvée its incomparable nobility.

A Non-Vintage Brut (NV Brut) reflects the consistent style of a Champagne House through the blending of multiple harvests. Its mission is to be faithful, balanced, and immediately enjoyable.

A Prestige Cuvée, on the other hand, stands apart by:

• — A stricter selection of grapes and terroirs.
• — A longer ageing period, often eight to twelve years, sometimes more.
• — A deep and multilayered aromatic complexity.
• — Rarity and exclusivity.

If the Non-Vintage Brut is the House’s calling card, the Prestige Cuvée represents its pinnacle.

The importance of the glass

The choice of glass is crucial:

• — The coupe, while iconic, is too open — it dissipates aromas and causes bubbles to fade quickly.
• — The flute enhances effervescence but is too narrow to allow aromatic development.
• — The tulip glass or white wine glass is ideal:
• • Its gently curved bowl concentrates aromas.
• • Its volume allows the wine to breathe and express its full complexity.
• • It strikes the perfect balance between observing fine bubbles and appreciating aromas.

Serving rules

• — Ideal temperature: between 10°C and 12°C (50–54°F).
• — Serving method: avoid sudden chilling; use an ice bucket filled with both water and ice for gradual cooling.
• — Best moment: a Prestige Cuvée deserves a calm setting — ideally enjoyed during a refined gastronomic meal.

Gastronomic pairings: when Prestige meets haute cuisine

A Prestige Cuvée pairs beautifully with the finest, most delicate dishes.
Some emblematic pairings include:

• — Oscietra or Beluga caviar: the salinity and richness meet the wine’s minerality and tension.
• — Roasted lobster with citrus butter reduction: a dialogue of texture and freshness.
• — Line-caught sea bass with Champagne sauce: an ode to elegance and subtlety.
• — Truffled Bresse chicken: depth and refinement in harmony.
• — Risotto with Alba white truffle: creaminess meets vinosity.
• — Cheeses: aged Chaource or Brie de Meaux for a creamy, savory finale.

Traditionally, Prestige Cuvées are vintage wines, expressing the unique identity of an exceptional year.

However, Laurent-Perrier has chosen a singular path with Grand Siècle — not to rely on one single year, but to recreate the perfect year through the artful blending of three exceptional and complementary vintages. This bold vision achieves a higher harmony — a perfect balance of freshness, structure, and complexity.

Grand Siècle embodies absolute excellence and stands among the greatest Prestige Cuvées in Champagne.

• — Grand Siècle Iteration N°26: rated 100/100 by James Suckling and Michel Bettane.
• — Grand Siècle Iteration N°24 Magnum: also awarded 100/100 by Falstaff magazine.
• — Grand Siècle “Les Réserves” Iteration N°20 Magnum: the quintessence of long ageing — rare, sought-after, and majestic.

Comparison with Other Prestige Cuvées

The most prestigious Champagne Houses each have their own masterpieces:

• — Dom Pérignon 2012: 98/100 (James Suckling).
• — Cristal 2014 — Louis Roederer: 98/100 (Wine Spectator), 99/100 (James Suckling).
• — Sir Winston Churchill 2015 — Pol Roger: 96/100 (Decanter).
• — La Grande Dame 2015 — Veuve Clicquot: 95/100 (Wine Advocate).
• — Belle Époque 2014 — Perrier-Jouët: 94/100 (Wine Spectator).

While all stand out for their excellence, Grand Siècle distinguishes itself by its singular concept and the consistency of its perfect scores.

So, what is a Prestige Cuvée?

It is a masterpiece of patience, precision, and dedication — the most refined expression of Champagne artistry. Defined by the selection of the finest terroirs, the alliance of noble grape varieties, prolonged ageing, and a rare aromatic depth, it represents the pinnacle of craftsmanship.

With Grand Siècle, Laurent-Perrier has redefined the very notion of a Prestige Cuvée. Instead of celebrating a single great year, the House has created a unique approach: recreating the perfect year through the blend of three exceptional vintages.

Iteration after iteration, Grand Siècle has become one of Champagne’s ultimate benchmarks — acclaimed by international critics and regarded today as the purest expression of Prestige.