Best Cellared For 184 Years…
On Monday March 9th, while most of us were starting our work week, twelve of the world’s wine experts also went to ‘work’. Their ‘job’ that day was to taste some champagne.
Renowned champagne house Perrier-Jouet hosted the tasting at their cellar in Epernay, France (the capitol of Champagne), in celebration of the release of their inaugural vintage of the 21st century, the Perrier-Jouet 2002.
Cellar master Herve Deschamps uncorked 20 different vintages from their collection: 2002, 1996, 1995, 1985, 1982, 1976, 1975, 1971, 1964, 1959, 1955, 1952, 1928, 1911, 1906, 1892, 1874, 1858, 1846 and… the Perrier-Jouet 1825, the oldest vintage champagne still in existence (it’s officially listed in the Guiness Book of World Records).
It’s can’t even imagine what it must have been like to essentially taste the history of Perrier-Jouet, and to then taste the oldest bottle in the world.
And how did that bottle taste? British wine-writer John Stimpfig said “The wine was heavily oxidised, with a sherry-like character. However I did taste notes of truffles, caramel and mushrooms. Most of the bubbles had disappeared, although there was a slight spritz left.”
“But Serena Sutcliffe, the head of Sotheby’s international wine department, who helped organize the tasting event, described the wine as “addictive” with a complex flavour of figs and even a “slight nose of the sea”.”
Guests included Stimpfig, Sutcliffe, world-renowned champagne expert Richard Juhlin from Sweden; France’s famous wine critic: Michel Bettane; Roger Voss from Wine Enthusiast and other wine experts from China, Japan, Italy and Finland.
Several of the tasters felt the 1825 tasted better than many of the newer bottles. After the last drop was drunk, only two bottles remain of the oldest vintage in existence.
Something to think about next time you go to your work…
You can read more at the Perrier-Jouet website or at BBC NEWS online. The photos posted here are care of the BBC website as well.
