Laurent-Perrier Blanc de Blancs Nature, Champagne

Lots of white flowers with fresh and dried apples plus hints of bread dough. Asian pears. Medium- to full-bodied with density, velvety texture and a very dry finish. Flavorful and slightly bitter with richness, structure and class. 2016 base wine with reserve wine from 2014. Drink or hold.

95 points jamessuckling.com

The Laurent-Perrier Blanc de Blancs Nature is a strikingly pure expression of Champagne, crafted entirely from Chardonnay sourced from some of the finest Grand Cru villages in the Côte des Blancs. Laurent-Perrier, founded in 1812, has always been a house known for innovation and precision. Their long-standing focus on Chardonnay is showcased here in a style with no dosage (zero added sugar), allowing the terroir and varietal character to shine without adornment.

The fruit comes primarily from chalky soils in Avize, Cramant, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, villages revered for producing Chardonnay of finesse, minerality and tension. Following fermentation in stainless steel to preserve freshness, the wine undergoes extended lees ageing in bottle, building depth and complexity while retaining crystalline precision.

In the glass, it shows pale gold with a fine, persistent bead. Aromatically it is fresh and complex, offering lemon zest, white peach and green apple alongside chalk, oyster shell, toasted almond and a delicate floral lift. On the palate, it is taut and precise, with vibrant citrus and orchard fruit flavours carried by piercing acidity and a chalky mineral backbone. Notes of brioche and roasted nuts unfold with time, balanced by an elegant, bone-dry finish of exceptional length.

Food pairings lean into its precision and saline minerality: freshly shucked oysters, caviar, sashimi, or simply grilled lobster. Vegetarian matches include tempura vegetables, citrus-dressed salads or burrata with lemon zest and herbs. Its structure and drive also make it a brilliant partner for hard cheeses like Comté or aged Parmesan. With 8 to 12 years of cellaring potential, it will develop greater richness, nutty depth and honeyed complexity while maintaining its linear core.