x
  • Country ranking ?

    848
  • Producer ranking ?

    11
  • Decanting time

    5min
  • When to drink

    now to 2025
  • Food Pairing

    Crab and avocado California rolls

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

Close

The Story

Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque is the original Belle Epoque vintage cuvée, first appearing in 1964. Instantly recognisable throughout the world, its bottle is adorned with the graceful spray of Japanese white anemones created for Maison Perrier-Jouët by Art Nouveau master Emile Gallé in 1902.

Working at the vat, plot by plot, the Cellar Master tastes and tests time and again, finally isolating the wines, turning each cuvée into a unique wine that expresses all the characteristic elegance and finesse of the House of Perrier-Jouët. "I throw myself into each composition with one combined effort, like the creative flow of an artist, at that moment when intuition, sensitivity and skill somehow inexplicably come together." Hervé Deschamps.

In 1902, Emile Gallé designed a delicate spray of anemones to be engraved on the prestigious cuvées of Perrier-Jouët Champagnes. The House has remained loyal to this artistic heritage ever since.

 

For Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque, Séverine Frerson specifically selects Pinot Noir grapes from two crus, Verzy and Mailly-Champagne, in the north of the Montagne de Reims, both characterised by their chalky soils. “Pinot Noir grapes from Mailly-Champagne in particular have an elegance and finesse that harmonise perfectly with our signature Chardonnay from Grand Cru terroirs in the Côte des Blancs,” she says. “They therefore enhance, rather than overwhelm, the delicate floral structure of the wine.” The result is an elegantly structured cuvée with a clear floral dimension, making Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque an outstanding example of the art of blending in the Perrier-Jouët style.

Close

Wine Information

1985 Vintage - The Art of the Vintage according to Perrier-Jouët: elegance and finesse.

Pierre-Nicolas Perrier married Adèle Jouët in 1811 in Epernay, where they set up home. Ever since, the House has refused to compromise, going as far as to abandon production altogether in years of poor harvest. A number of wines from remarkable years have been selected and consigned to the silence of the cellars. And while each of these vintages has a distinctive character all of its own, they all without exception illustrate the excellence of the Perrier-Jouët vineyards. 65 hectares, ranked at 99.2% on the scale of qualitative wines, boasting the finest chardonnays on the Côte des Blancs. Exceptional vineyards, situated in "Champagne's magic triangle", mid-slope, facing South-Southeast. An exceptional location that lends the chardonnays great maturity, with generous aromas of white flowers and a subtly lingering bouquet.

The Belle Epoque cuvée is the authentic expression of its quality. Its freshness, elegance and subtle floral accents echo the spray of white anemones on its bottle, designed by Emile Gallé in 1902.

 

The vineyards have been passed down from generation to generation, enhanced by the expertise of the House. Hervé Deschamps, the 7th Cellar Master of the House of Perrier-Jouët fashions and sculpts each cuvée in time-honoured tradition, with extreme precision, testing each wine in turn, composing his creations in the process and thus bringing out the elegance and finesse of the floral, stylish and diamond-cut style that is the hallmark of the House.

In 1985, a harsh winter blighted the vineyards, but the splendid summer and autumn, plus a dose of patience, rescued a harvest that was as modest as it was superb. Fresh and elegant chardonnays, supple and generous 
pinots noirs, charming and fruity pinots meuniers were blended into an exceptionally wrought wine, in the purest Belle Epoque style, combining the grands crus typical of the cuvée: 50% chardonnays (Cramant, Avize, le Mesnil/Oger, Vertus and Chouilly); 45% pinots noirs (Aÿ, Ambonnay, Bouzy, Mailly, Verzenay, Verzy, Chigny les Roses); 5% pinot meunier (Dizy, Hautvillers, Damery, Venteuil and Vincelles).

A prestigious wooden presentation casket, engraved with the iconic anemone and the vintage year, serves as the perfect showcase for this rare wine.

 

Close

Vintage 1985

Severe winter temperatures and spring frosts did great damage, leaving many in the region unhopeful of a good year. The destruction was excessive especially in the northern Montagne de Reims, in the hillside vineyards west of Reims and in the Aube. The early summer weather did not raise the hopes, but finally fine September weather came to the rescue and yields ended up being better than feared (albeit tiny, 6,827 kg/ha) when picking commenced on September 30th. Champagnes from 1985 are typically beautifully balanced and intense with great length and character that is still improving today. Dom Pérignon, Charles Heidsieck Champagne Charlie and Blanc des Millénaires, Krug Vintage and Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque excelled, to name a few.

Close

Tasting note

color

Full and Gold

ending

Long and Spicy

flavors

Toasty and Coffee

nose

Intense, Pure, Complex and Seductive

recommend

Yes

taste

Average in Acidity, Low alcohol content, Well-Integrated, Complex, Well-structured, Round, Rich, Elegant and Dry

Written Notes

Bright, green-yellow colour. Refined smoky nose with spices, hints of tropical fruit, apples and oceanic oystershell aromas. Dry, crisp and broad on palate with complex creamy and mineral texture. Very long lingering minty finish. So fresh and vibrant! (Magnum) – JL – Aug 25, 2018

  • 96p
Deep maturing yellow colour with fine bubbles. Elegant and vibrant nose of toast, cream and ripe fruitiness. Apples, white flowers and stone fruits. Rich and round harmonious mouth-feel, well integrated with the bubbles. Long taste and a refined mousse. A great wine at peak. The first experiences were from normal sized bottles but the last bottle tasted was a magnum. There was quite a difference with the magnum holding on very well, worthy of more than 92 points.
  • 92p
TASTINGNOTE ‘Elegantare cuvéechampagne finns inte! Rejält utvecklad färg, visuellt ser den ut som ett vin från 70talet, aningen dimmig. Vinet är fyllt av unga subtila nyanser. Vet man hur vackert t.ex. 73:an utvecklats förstår man hur förstorade alla dessa aromer blir med åldern. I dag möts man av en doft som påminner om en blomsterbukett om våren, samt en rik men återhållsam fruktarom uppbackad av vanilj, honung, kaffe och saffron. Söt, yppig och rik i nyanserna men med hög syra, anngen spretig, inte helt harmonisk i eftersmaken.’
  • 95p
Load more notes

Information

Origin

Épernay, Champagne

Vintage Quality

Excellent

Value For Money

Very good

Investment potential

No Potential

Fake factory

None

Other wines from this producer

Belle Epoque Blanc de blancs

Belle Epoque Edition Première

Belle Epoque Rosé

Belle Epoque Vinothèque

Blanc de Blancs

Blason de France

Blason Rosé

Cuvée Belle Epoque Edition Automne

Grand Brut

Grand Brut Millésime

Perrier-Jouët NV

Vintage

Inside Information

Fresh and elegant Chardonnay, supple and generous Pinot Noir, charming and fruity pinots meuniers were blended into an exceptionally wrought wine, in the purest Belle Epoque style, combining the grands crus typical of the cuvée: Cramant, Avize, le Mesnil/Oger, Vertus and Chouilly (Chardonnay); Aÿ, Ambonnay, Bouzy, Mailly, Verzenay, Verzy, Chigny les Roses (Pinot Noir); Dizy, Hautvillers, Damery, Venteuil and Vincelles (Pinot Meunier).

Read more
Incorrect Information
If you found some information that is wrong, let us know
Are you sure you want do delete this wine? All information will be lost.
Are you sure you want to recommend this wine?
Are you sure you want hide this written note ?
Are you sure you want show this written note ?
UPGRADE MEMBER PLAN
Upgrade your membership now, it's quick and easy. We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards. Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal. You can cancel your membership at any time.
Thank you for your support!
 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

 

HOW TO USE TASTINGBOOK?

We recommend you to share few minutes for watching the following video instructions of how to use the Tastingbook. This can provide you a comprehensive understanding of all the features you can find from this unique service platform.

This video will help you get started



Taste wines with the Tastingbook


Create Your wine cellar on 'My Wines'



Explore Your tasted wines library



Administrate Your wine world in Your Profile



Type a message ...
Register to Tastingbook
Sign up now, it's quick and easy.
We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards.
Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal, where you can sign up for a free 7-day trial period. You can cancel your membership at any time. We wish you a rewarding journey to the world of Fine Wines.

Free 7 days Member trial

 

Member

 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

  Register