Joseph Perrier Cuvée Josephine 2014

Cuvée Joséphine is Joseph Perrier’s prestige expression, and the 2014 has a wonderfully refined balance between maturity and the vintage’s natural freshness. The bouquet is intricate rather than showy: white peach, candied lemon and ripe pear are layered with acacia, toasted almond, brioche and a delicate suggestion of honey. Fine, persistent bubbles give the palate an almost satin-like texture, carrying citrus and orchard fruit into richer notes of pastry and hazelnut. Underneath lies a precise mineral freshness that keeps everything beautifully composed. The finish is exceptionally long and graceful, with chalk, citrus oil and gentle toast lingering well beyond the fruit.

First created in 1982 and named after Joseph Perrier’s daughter Joséphine, this prestige cuvée is reserved for exceptional vintages and produced in very limited quantities. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from selected Grand and Premier Cru vineyards are given extended ageing in the house’s historic chalk cellars in Châlons-en-Champagne, allowing complexity to develop slowly while retaining the elegant house style. The 2014 is a particularly compelling Joséphine: sophisticated and expressive now, yet with the freshness and structure for further development in bottle. A genuine fine wine as much as a celebratory Champagne.