19/20
Jancis Robinson MW
“Blend of 2006 with 2004 and 2002. Magnum – which is always aged several years longer than the wine that is released in bottle. This is the current magnum (late release) that is just launched in the UK. Aged 14 years on lees. Disgorged in 2021.
Deep colour. Pungent – this wine really whisks up the nose! Very fresh. Really vivacious. Lots of energy. Very expressive. Fantastic!”
96/100
Essi Avellan MW
“This blend combines the generosity and voluptuousness of 2006 and 2002 with the racy finesse of 2004. On the nose, it is rich and honeyed, with opulent, sun-kissed fruit: dried apricots, nectarine, white pepper, vanilla, white flowers, mint and gunpowder, alongside sumptuous pear and apple fruitiness. The 2006 vintage features speak the loudest here, bringing vinosity and generosity to it. There is even a touch of hot-year phenolics to the palate. Not the smokiest or tightest of the Grand Siècle magnums, but a caressing one that sits at that perfect place between youth and maturity. Dosage 7g/l”
99/100
James Suckling
“Fabulous aromas of brioche, pie crust, lemon tart and fresh apple. Full-bodied, very dense and layered with freshness and energy that couples well with the palate. Powerful acidity gives great structure to this. Goes on for minutes. Extremely structured. Three vintages – 2006 (65%), 2004 (20%) and 2002 (15%). Blend of 58% chardonnay and 42% pinot noir. From 11 grand crus. Aged in magnums. One for the cellar. Available only magnum. In Europe from mid-October 2021. Drink or hold.”
95/100
Antonio Galloni
“The NV Brut Grande Cuvée Grand Siècle No. 23 (Magnum) is fascinating to taste within the context of the other wines in the series. The No. 23 is a decidedly vinous, ample Grande Siècle built on texture and resonance more than anything else. Lemon confit, lemon oil, marzipan, dried flowers and spice all flesh out as the wine opens up with air. The blend is 2006 (65%), 2004 (20%) and 2002 (15%). Disgorged May 27, 2019. (Originally published in August 2020)”
94/100
Simon Field MW
“The first magnum was a little more evolved (a hint of bruised apple) than anticipated, so a second was opened; the difference was incredible. Blur became focus, and normal service was resumed. Mid-palate richness with notes of umami, then benchmark freshness on the finish, large-format quality writ large, with hints of grapefruit and sea salt to keep one on one’s toes.”
18/20
Tamlyn Currin
“This is the 17th release of this wine (1959 being the first). Blend of 3 vintages: 1999, 2002 and 2004. (Interestingly, 2000 was the only vintage declared that has never appeared in a Grand Siècle – not good enough?) 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir. Made from 11 of the 17 grands crus.
Very slight tinge of gold. Cheesy nose – distinctly leesy/dairy. But gloriously unfettered and wild and spinning with flavour on the palate. Herbal. Wild honey. Chamomile, lemon zest, walnut and ginger. Coruscating edges. A geometric wine into which the bubbles seem to have been etched with a diamond tip. (TC) ”
92 → 94/100
Essi Avellan MW
“A fresh and mellow, supple Grand Siècle with understated elegance. Highly balanced in 75cl bottles even if not one of the most impressive blends. Starting to show signs of evolution. A wholly different story in magnum, which showed majestically at the 2014 CSWWC. The complexity and refinement was just mind-blowing. World Champion Deluxe Magnum, 96 points with further potential.”
95/100
Stephan Reinhardt
“The NV Grand Siècle Grande Cuvée is a Grand Cru Brut based on 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir from a total of eleven villages. The youngest release is a blend of the (declared) vintages 2002, 1999 and 1998, and has a yellow-golden color that opens beautifully with a clear, deep and complex bouquet. It is pure, ripe and very elegant, mixing pain-aux-raisin and honey flavors with pure chalk. Ample, highly elegant, beautifully matured and fruit-intense, with fine caramel, honey and torrone flavors, this is a well-structured Grand Siècle with great finesse and delicate freshness. Awesome.”
18.5/20
Jancis Robinson MW
“Deep straw colour but still with amazing tension on the palate. This is explosive and minerally on the nose and definitely with less obvious acidity than the Grand Siècle No 25 in bottle at this point. In fact, it's almost warm and round! Definitely creamy-textured with strong lemon-syllabub (lemon-cream) notes. Very much part of the Grand Siècle family with just a lightly bitter note on the end. Maturing very nicely.
Drink 2022–2034”
17.5/20
Richard Hemming MW
“Creamy, yoghurt, peach, dried herbs and baked apple - lots going on here. Substantial and fragrant.”
93/100
Wine Spectator
“A subtle version, focused more on delicate acidity and texture than the finely layered flavors of creamed apple, marzipan, pastry dough and black currant, with hints of lemon curd and ground spice. Delivers a lasting, smoke-tinged finish. Drink now through 2020.”
92/100
Stephen Tanzer
“Light, bright gold. Mineral-accented scents of pear skin, orange pith and white flowers are lifted by a gingery nuance. Pliant, dense and rich, with palate-coating orchard fruit and spicecake flavors and a smoky mineral quality building with air. Weighty and broad but energetic, with bright minerality adding lift and cut to a strikingly persistent finish.”
96/100
Roger Voss
“Laurent-Perrier’s prestige cuvée is always non-vintage, a blend of top years. The latest bottling is so elegant, definitely maturing from bottle aging and older vintages in the blend, but still worthy of aging in itself. It is dry, in the L-P style, but has richness, an intense pink grapefruit character, hints of cilantro, the final acidity a great shaft of light.”
