A bottle like this, impossible not to notice. We are of course talking about Belle époque, Cuvée de prestige from Maison Perrier-Jouët. Its history goes as far back as 1902, when the maison asked Emile Gallé, a glassmaker and decorator, to embellish the glass of the bottle intended for a new Cuvée. A wine that was supposed to celebrate the happy historical period they were living, the Belle époque precisely. The artist decorated the bottle with white anemones, but for various reasons they were not used for more than 60 years. They were revived only in 1964, when Chef de Cave André Bavaret, decided to bottle the iconic Cuvée precisely in a bottle decorated in such an original way. Since then the Belle époque has been a symbol of Champagne and Maison Perrier-Jouët's most prestigious wine. Chardonnay 50%, Pinot Noir 45% and Pinot Meunier 5%, Belle époque rests in the Maison's cellars for at least five years. The 2013 vintage proves to be an elegant and exciting Champagne, characterized by a beautiful clear gold color with subtle greenish reflections. On the nose, notes of white flowers combined with white peach, crisp pear and citrus. In the mouth it is very fresh, with a lingering and harmonious finish. Try it with a risotto with porcini mushrooms, as well as with classic shellfish and seafood.
