Laurent-Perrier Alexandra Rose 2004

From the experts of rosé champagne, Laurent-Perrier Alexandra Rosé is a rare and cherished wine resulting from a rigorous selection of the very best plots in the region. This unique prestige cuvée rosé is only created in years when the Grand Cru grapes of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay reach maturity at the same time. The pioneering soak-on-the-skins maceration process applied to Cuvée Rosé is utilised again, with 20% Chardonnay being added during the Pinot Noir maceration for Alexandra Rosé. To do full justice to its rarity, Alexandra Rosé is presented in a majestically refined bottle with a label decorated in powdered gold.

Laurent-Perrier Alexandra Rosé 2004 marks the seventh vintage release since the launch of Alexandra Rosé 1982 in 1987 and is the first vintage in which magnums have been produced.

Weather: The 2004 vintage saw an initial winter of mild temperatures with intermittent storms and hail. The spring and summer months were hot and sunny and the sugar levels late in September produced good quality fruits, especially for the Pinot Noir grapes. A huge harvest in general for the region. Overall many experts believe that 2004 is one of the greatest vintages of the last two decades.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Pinot Noir: Ambonnay, Bouzy, Verzenay | Chardonnay: Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
Grape Varieties: 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
Ageing: 10 years on the lees
Dosage: 7-8 g/l
Drink: Now to 2025

Tasting Note: On the nose hints of strawberries and redcurrants combine with candied fruits. A stunning palate dominated by Pinot Noir elegance, this is well refined with superb balance. More red fruits and a delicate but full-bodied finish of strawberries and blackcurrants. From magnum, and given time to mature, this will be outstanding.

Although originally founded in 1812, the name Champagne Laurent-Perrier was not conceived until 1964. After changing hands through several deaths and marriages, it was Bernard de Nonancourt who initiated Laurent-Perrier's rise to world fame. One of Champagne's most important figures in the 20th century, he officially took over in 1948 after a three-year apprenticeship at the Houses of Delamotte and Lanson. In his 62-year tenure, production grew from just 80,000 bottles annually to over eight million. Under de Nonancourt, Laurent-Perrier were the first House to use stainless-steel vats and the first House to create both a zero dosage champagne (Ultra Brut) and a non-vintage prestige cuvée (Grand Siècle).

Sadly, de Nonancourt passed away in 2010 and Laurent-Perrier is now managed by his two daughters, Alexandra and Stéphanie. The production style is elegant, Chardonnay-driven, pure and fruit-forward and current Cellar Master Michel Fauconnet believes strictly in minimising oxidation. Indeed, Laurent-Perrier are one of the most reductive in style, serving to enhance their fruity expression and smoky complexity. Now one of the region's largest producers, they are perhaps best known for Cuvée Rosé, the most recognised rosé champagne on the planet.

Cellar Master: Michel Fauconnet
Winery Location: Tours-sur-Marne | Champagne, France
Champagne Region: Vallée de la Marne
Annual Production (bottles): 7,500,000