Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle Grand Cuvee Iteration 26 MV (750ML)

100 Points, James Suckling, www.jamessucklng.com: "This is really something. Electric on the palate. The aromas are so complex with sliced fresh and dried ginger, subtle pie crust, tarte tatin and hints of nutmeg with some salted caramel. Toasted bread, too. Always subtle. The palate is full- to medium-bodied yet hemmed-in with a freshness and balance that draws you back. Savory and vibrant. It's full of energy. Spectacular. Fascinating. Symphonic blend of 2012, 2008 and 2007. 65% of the 2012, 25% of the 2008 and 10% of the 2007. Eight grand cru. Chardonnay 58% and 42% pinot noir. Disgorged February 2023. 10 years on the lees. 7g/L dosage. Drink or hold." 07/23

96 Points, William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "A blend of the 2012, 2008 and 2007 vintages, the NV Brut Grand Siècle #26 won't be released for another four or five years, but there is a great deal to anticipate, as it's a stunning young wine in the making. Unfurling in the glass with scents of crisp nectarine, pear and honeyed citrus fruit that mingle with notions of fresh mint, blanched almonds and iodine, the wine is full-bodied, concentrated and tightly wound, with broad structural shoulders, tangy acids and a long, intense finish. It's a great Grand Siècle in the making." 04/19

96 Points, Tom Hewson, Decanter: "This iteration of Grand Siècle is almost entirely composed of two of Champagne's greatest recent vintages, so expectations are high. The wine more than meets them, tempering the generosity of 2012's fruit – ripe apricots, white peach, clementines and sunny, zesty citrus – with a pitch-perfect streak of 2008 tautness and structure. There are some fleshy, creamy notes of papaya and toasted white sourdough, but everything is as delicately rendered as expected and impeccably shaped, with a sleek, silky mousse. A little more approachable than Itération No. 25, it will welcome extended bottle age rather than demand it. The blend is 58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir from eight grand cru vineyards. 65% is from the 2012 vintage, 35% from 2008 and 10% from 2007." 06/23

97 Points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast: "Tautly textured, the Champagne is delicious with a poise between white and citrus fruits along with touches of maturity coming through. Drink this magnificent wine now for its great balance and intensity." 12/23

96+ Points, John Gilman, View from the Cellar: "The Laurent-Perrier “Grand Siécle” Iteration No. 26 is composed from the vintages of 2012, 2008 and 2007. Sixty-five percent of the blend is 2012, twenty-five percent 2008 and ten percent 2007. The final cépages worked out to be fifty-eight percent chardonnay and forty-two percent pinot noir, all from grand cru villages. The wine was aged ten years sur lattes prior to disgorgement. The wine shows beautiful elegance on the nose, wafting from the glass in a complex blend of apple, white peach, fresh-baked bread, chalky soil tones, incipient notes of caraway seed, dried flowers and a topnote of gentle smokiness. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and beautifully structured, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent soil signature, refined mousse and a long, complex and impeccably balanced finish. This is still a fairly youthful wine and there are other layers of complexity that time will unlock here, if patience can be exercised and the wine allowed to hibernate down in the cellar for five to ten years. That said, it is already so delicious that aging it is going to take serious self-discipline! " 04/24

96+ Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The NV Grande Cuvée Grand Siècle No. 26 is exquisite. Light pastry notes, baked apple tart, lemon confit, spice and dried herbs are all beautifully amplified in a resonant, super-expressive Grand Siècle. All the elements are so well balanced. As good as the No. 26 is now, it is also incredibly young, with impressive weight, persistence and structure to age well for years. Today, it exudes texture and character, not to mention tons of class. Bright acids and floral overtones pull it all together on the palate-staining, saline finish. The blend is 60% 2012, 20% 2008 and 20% 2007. (Drink between 2024-2039)" 03/24