It wasn’t a typical day in the pristine alpine village where the most powerful people kept vacation homes and the luxurious lifestyles that inhabited this angelic setting were beyond the comprehension of most royalty. Yet on that particular day, electricity filled the air as French military men quickly hiked up the side of the mountain to get to the Eagle’s Nest, known as Kehlsteinhaus in German. It was a grueling task, especially considering these men barely slept, were on the brink of starvation and had already been through many dangerous situations, a few ending in tragedy that would be etched on their souls forever, and it seemed that the Eagle’s Nest would never appear in front of their eyes; some fell on the ground and told their brothers to leave them behind, but no, they helped those up the steep climb, as they would all enjoy the treasures together.
This remarkable mission took place at the end of World War II and Bernard de Nonancourt was one of the soldiers who belonged to the 2nd Armored Division of General Leclerc; he and his men made their way to Hitler’s hidden retreat in Bavaria where he had turned a modest chalet into a lavish compound called the Eagle’s Nest with an enormous bunker system that was connected by several miles of tunnels. The seemingly tranquil village housed vacation homes for high-ranking Nazis; ironically, the picturesque beauty of the town did not represent the horrors that the inhabitants inflicted on others.
Photo Credit: Champagne Laurent-Perrier
The men had found around half a million bottles of the best Burgundy, Bordeaux and Champagne wine, including bottlings of the exquisite Champagne Salon 1928, and it became symbolic of Bernard’s mission in life.
Although Bernard passed away in 2010, his legendary joyful exuberance lives on in the recently released Champagne Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Nº26, garnering a 100-point score as well as being awarded ‘Wine of the Year.’
Grand Siècle
Bernard’s mother was just as remarkable as she bought the Domaine of Laurent-Perrier in Champagne, even though she was a widow with four children. She hoped her eldest son would run Laurent-Perrier, but he never returned from the war. So Bernard, returning from his war journey with an auspicious sign – finding the 1928 Champagne Salon bottles, took over Laurent-Perrier. He would eventually develop a cuvée that would live up to the world’s greatest Champagnes: Grand Siècle, which translates into “Great Century.”
When Grand Siècle first came on the scene in 1959, only a couple of Champagnes were considered at an ultra-premium level, competing with the finest wines in the world, as there seemed to be no market demand for such Champagnes. But Bernard was an early believer that Champagne was more than just an aperitif, as when Champagne is made with the intention of greatness, finding the ideal balance that would elevate it to the same status of worship as an outstanding Burgundy wine, it could compete with the most prestigious fine wines. So, he created a Champagne, blending Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the top Grand Cru vineyards, based on the marriage of three vintages, which were declared vintage years by the house on their release. One vintage would give the depth and complexity, the other would bring the freshness and vitality and the third would seamlessly bring the previous two vintages together as one cohesive, celestial experience.
Last year, the recently released Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Itération N.26 was given a 100-point score by world-renowned wine critic James Suckling, and he also named it his ‘Wine of the Year’ out of a selection of 39,000 bottles. The Grand Siècle Itération 26 blends the 2012, 2008 and 2007 vintages sourced from eight outstanding Grand Cru vineyards from iconic plots such as Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Ambonnay. It is the Champagne that lives up to the ambition of a young man who was courageous enough to go to the Eagle’s Nest, allowing him to drink a 1928 Champagne Salon, inspiring him to make the commitment to one day make a Champagne of the same caliber. There have only been 26 releases of Grand Siècle, and hence, why this is edition 26, so one should jump at the chance to buy one if they are able, and certainly leap at the opportunity for the Grand Siècle Itération N.26, as it reaches new heights when it comes to complexity and elegance.
Historic Values & Forward Future
Photo Credit: LEIF CARLSSON
The name Grand Siècle (Great Century) is connected to a golden age in France that goes back to the time of Louis XIV, known as the “Sun King.” He was responsible for commissioning exquisite architecture and enchanting landscape spaces that would be the ideal combination of harmony, balance, and perfection – the same goals Bernard pursued with the creation of Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle.
Today, Bernard’s granddaughter, Lucie Pereyre de Nonancourt, represents Grand Siècle worldwide, and she is educating herself in all aspects of Laurent-Perrier including training with the Cellar Master. She is a powerful force, fiercely standing behind her grandfather’s mission to convince the world that fine Champagne can be just as complex as a stellar Burgundy wine.
Bernard was a charismatic, highly enthusiastic man who spoke his mission into existence; first, with the development of an outstanding Champagne that could go head to head with any fine wine, and second, convincing top wine critics to at least give Grand Siècle that opportunity to compete with the great wines of the world. Both of those missions have become a reality, and his granddaughter is on to the next mission: enlightening consumers of Champagne’s ability for precise and distinctive terroir that, under the guidance of a skilled Cellar Master, can be enhanced by the blending of top vineyards from complementary vintages – becoming greater than the sum of its parts, even when the parts include some of the most prestigious vineyards in Champagne.
***Link to original Forbes article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/cathrinetodd/2024/10/30/100-point-champagne-wine-finds-a-perfect-balance-blending-three-outstanding-vintages/
Vintage Champagne:
2012 Laurent-Perrier Vintage Brut Millésimé, Champagne, France: 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir. Lemon blossoms, intense minerality and subtle spice on the nose with an overall finesse that is energetic at its core with a long, linear finish.
Grand Siècle Champagnes:
Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Itération Nº26, Champagne, France: Blend of 58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir sourced from eight Grand Cru vineyards; 65% is from the 2012 vintage, 25% from 2008 and 10% from 2007. Awarded 100-point score by world-renowned wine critic James Suckling, and he also named it his ‘Wine of the Year.’ Incredible depth of concentration that is first noted with delectable aromas of honeycomb, marzipan and apricot cobbler with lots of freshness on the palate with lemon curd flavors laced in a saline minerality and a jaw-dropping, extremely prolonged finish with silky textures created by tiny, delicate bubbles caressing the palate.
Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Itération Nº23, Champagne, France: Blend of 58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir sourced from 11 Grand Cru vineyards; 65% is from the 2006 vintage, 20% from 2004 and 15% from 2002. Thrilling, smoky minerality intermixed with mandarin zest and freshly baked bread that has a creamy texture enhanced by ripe nectarine flavors lifted by crisp acidity with a long-lasting note of toasted slivered almonds dancing in one’s head.
Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle, Les Réserves, Itération Nº20, Champagne, France: Blend of 54% Chardonnay and 46% Pinot Noir sourced from 11 Grand Cru vineyards; 60% from the 1999 vintage, 20% from 1997 and 20% from 1996. This is the Les Réserves bottling of the Grand Siècle N.20, which has spent 20 years aging on its lees. Multifaceted nose with enticing notes of puff pastry cream dusted with cocoa powder, lemon tart and toasted coconut that is electrified by sea spray notes and marked acidity and has an extraordinarily long finish that is exhilarating.
