Laurent Perrier Champagne, Grand Siecle No. 26, NV

With a bright, youthful appearance, Grand Siècle No. 26 unfurls gradually to display crystalline, honeyed notes of candied peel, ginger and quince, with an understated scent of the seaside. Bright, with needle-sharp definition on the palate: incredibly precise but neither hard nor hard work. On the finish, it fans out to a peacock's tail of orange zest, lemon drizzle cake, ginger syrup, an umami richness like lobster bisque, and a tiny hint of grapefruit pith. Going against received wisdom in Champagne, Laurent‑Perrier believes that the art of assemblage can offer what nature can never provide: the perfect vintage. Grand Siècle is always a combination of three great vintages, and iteration No. 26 combines 65% of 2012 with 25% 2008 and 10% 2007. The wine comes from specially selected plots within eight Grands Crus: 58% Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Cramand and Avise, and 42% Pinot Noir from Tours-sur-Marne, Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzy. The bottled wine is aged on the lees for 10 years prior to finishing and release.