Monday March 21, the Champagne House Perrier-Jouët celebrate its bicentenary with the unveiling of Bi-Centenaire—the very first Living Legacy champagne designed to be passed on to future generations.
PJ 200 ans, Perrier-Jouët Champagne house bicentenary
Photo by Jean Picon
An exclusive guest list gathered for the unveiling of a new kind of Champagne experience by the house renowned globally for its Belle Époque Cuvée. Guests were also treated to the unveiling of a new work of art commissioned from American artist Daniel Arsham, designed to embody the spirit of Bi-Centenaire.
Perrier-Jouët is one of the most prestigious House of Champagne whose heritage dates back from 1811. Part of Pernod Ricard portfolio, co-leader in Spirit & Wine in the world, Perrier-Jouët is the number 3 best-selling Cuvée in the US and number 2 prestige Cuvée in Japan.
Perrier-Jouët Bi-Centenaire tells the unexpected tale of a great vintage wine with two stories. The first takes place today: a champagne-lover treats himself to a magnum of Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque 1998. Many years later, a descendant in turn enjoys a magnum of Belle Epoque 1998, passed down through the generations, preciously stored in a private cellar in Perrier-Jouët for up to 100 years.
To achieve this elegant defiance of time, the vintage has been carefully chosen for its exceptional ageing capacity by current Cellar Master Hervé Deschamps, the only seventh cellar master in the house’s 200 year-history.
Just 200 guests from 10 countries attended the private launch, set in the stunning glass courtyard of the iconic Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, symbolizing Perrier-Jouët’s passionate family spirit for passing on artisanal and artistic craftsmanship.
Celebrity Studio Harcourt Portraits
Guests enjoyed a unique exhibition of photographic portraits by legendary Studio Harcourt, showcasing iconic examples of family legacy including French Movie Stars Alain Delon and daughter Anouchka, Catherine Deneuve and son Christian Vadim, American model and actress Jerry Hall and daughter Georgia May Jagger, French artists Jean-Charles de Castelbajac and son Louis-Marie, the world’s oldest Circus dynasty Patriarch Sampion Bouglione and son Francesco, France’s oldest Jeweller Olivier Mellerio and daughter Emilie and Italian legendary wine maker Marquis Antinori and daughter Alegra.
Alain Delon & Anouchka Delon Portrait by Harcourt
Catherine Deneuve & Christian Vadim Portrait by Harcourt
For over 70 years, portraits by Harcourt have been a part of the collective memory and have become an institution. Founded in Paris in 1934 the studio Harcourt’s archives includes 5 million prints, having portraying more than 1500 celebrities and over 500 000 people.
Champagne!
A sumptuous champagne-paired celebratory dinner followed, orchestrated by notorious French Chef Jean-Louis Nomicos who reinterpreted the 1911 Perrier-Jouët Centenary menu paired with Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Cuvées, including the exceptional Cuvée Belle Epoque 1998 in magnum.
Celebratory Dinner
Photo by Jean Picon
Speaking on the night, Chairman & CEO of Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët Lionel Breton: "We are very proud to celebrate tonight the bicentenary of Perrier-Jouët with this unique champagne experience as a real tribute to the house’s remarkable craftsmanship and passion for passing on a sense of French art de vivre to future generations."
Amongst the other VIP guests were also Spanish choreographer and dancer Blanca Li, English designer and restaurateur Sir Terence Conran and Daughter Sophie designer, Noë Duchaufour-Lawrance, French TV presenter Stephane Bern, Japanese art photographer Makiko Takehara, Spanish Fashion Designer Isaac Reina, Michelin star Chefs Albert & Alain Roux.
Makiko Takehara
with Hervé Deschamps and Miles Cockfield
Photo by Bertrand Rindoff
Perrier-Jouët Bi-Centenaire diptych sculpture by Daniel Arsham
The evening concluded with the unveiling of Daniel Arsham’s unique diptych sculpture, revealing glimpses of the bottles through an original and distinctive architecture, designed to express the philosophy of this champagne. Daniel Arsham: "It was this spirit of Perrier-Jouët continuity that I wanted to illustrate by creating a diptych that combined both the essence of Perrier-Jouët and my universe. My initial inspiration came from Perrier-Jouët’s vines and its cellars, the detail of Emile Gallé’s anemone flower."
A rising star in the international art world, Daniel Arsham blurs the boundaries between art, architecture and the performing arts, working with Merce Cunningham, for whose last work he designed the scenography. Arsham has also teamed with choreographer Jonah Bokaer and made special projets with fashion designer like Hedi Slimane and recently Richard Chai. He has been represented by Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin since 2003.
Perrier-Jouët Bi-Centenaire diptych sculpture
Photo by Studio Harcourt, Paris
Daniel Arsham
Photo by Bertrand Rindoff
Perrier-Jouët Bi-Centenaire Champagne dedicaced ceilar
Photo by Camille Malissen
Perrier-Jouët Bi-Centenaire is available in very limited quantities (100 pieces only) at the Champagne House’s Boutique in Epernay and by appointment only including a privileged hospitality experience. It is also available through the exclusive Pernod Ricard network for an average RSP of 10.000 euros.
21 June 2011 Update
As part of its 200th anniversary festivities, the House of Perrier-Jouët welcomed on the 16 and 17 June some of the world’s leading champagne experts for an exclusive vertical tasting of its prestigious cuvee Belle Epoque in the most celebratory of formats: the Jeroboam.
Following Perrier-Jouët’s historic 2009 tasting which included the world’s oldest champagne Perrier-Jouët 1825 Vintage, Chef de Caves Hervé Deschamps was keen to explore a different dimension of the House’s cellars through a jeroboam tasting of 9 outstanding House vintages dating back to 1975, the year Perrier-Jouët introduced vintage champagne in jeroboam.
Hervé Deschamps explains: “the jeroboam is the traditional symbol of celebration in Champagne and our 200th anniversary was the perfect occasion to explore how these great vintages have evolved in larger bottles. Jeroboams offer an exceptional but slightly different experience from standard bottles, as a lower pressure together with a longer ageing on the lees gives rise to a more intense and richer aromatic wine”.
After toasting the Perrier-Jouët ‘s bicentenary with a glass of the legendary 1911 vintage in magnum, guests were served jeroboams of Belle Epoque 1998, 1996, 1995, 1990, 1989, 1985, 1982, 1978, and 1975. The blend of these Cuvees remained the same, true to the Perrier-Jouët’s signature style, made of 50% Chardonnay from Grands Crus as Cramant & Avize, 45% of Pinot Noir from Mailly, Verzy, Verzenay and 5% Pinot Meunier from Dizy.
British wine expert Serena Sutcliffe MW commented: “I was in heaven, I love matured wines and some of them in jeroboam format still have a great future ahead of them” whilst French wine author Michel Bettane explained : “What’s interesting with Jeroboams is that the wine presents better, as the senses are less dominated by the carbonic gas. One finds more ‘vinosity’ and greater roundness: I was delighted to discover the wine itself.”
The 1985 and 1975 vintages were hailed as highlights; with the jeroboam of Belle Epoque 1985 recorded by one expert as “simply sensational with a long life ahead” and the 1975 vintage described as “the ultimate expression and achievement of Belle Epoque; mellow, harmonious, and with an incredible sweetness.”
During the course of the two-day private event, guests were also treated to a sumptuous champagne-paired gala dinner, devised by acclaimed French chef Jean-Louis Nomicos and Michel Dubois, chef of the prestigious Maison Belle Epoque, who together recreated the 1911 Perrier-Jouët Centenary Menu to complement a range of more recent Perrier-Jouët gems. These included the exceptional Belle Epoque 1998 in magnum, the cuvee de grande garde at the heart Perrier-Jouët Bi-Centenaire, the world’s first “Living Legacy Champagne,” which was unveiled in Paris this March.
All the champagnes tasted were the creation of André Baveret and Hervé Deschamps, only the sixth and seventh cellar masters respectively in the 200-year history of Perrier-Jouët and their achievement in balancing perfectly the diversity of each vintage’s individual character with Perrier-Jouët signature style, as a tribute of an expertise passed on over two centuries.
21 June 2011 Update
As part of its 200th anniversary festivities, the House of Perrier-Jouët welcomed on the 16 and 17 June some of the world’s leading champagne experts for an exclusive vertical tasting of its prestigious cuvee Belle Epoque in the most celebratory of formats: the Jeroboam.
Following Perrier-Jouët’s historic 2009 tasting which included the world’s oldest champagne Perrier-Jouët 1825 Vintage, Chef de Caves Hervé Deschamps was keen to explore a different dimension of the House’s cellars through a jeroboam tasting of 9 outstanding House vintages dating back to 1975, the year Perrier-Jouët introduced vintage champagne in jeroboam.
Hervé Deschamps explains: “the jeroboam is the traditional symbol of celebration in Champagne and our 200th anniversary was the perfect occasion to explore how these great vintages have evolved in larger bottles. Jeroboams offer an exceptional but slightly different experience from standard bottles, as a lower pressure together with a longer ageing on the lees gives rise to a more intense and richer aromatic wine”.
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| Photo Courtesy Perrier-Jouët |
After toasting the Perrier-Jouët ‘s bicentenary with a glass of the legendary 1911 vintage in magnum, guests were served jeroboams of Belle Epoque 1998, 1996, 1995, 1990, 1989, 1985, 1982, 1978, and 1975. The blend of these Cuvees remained the same, true to the Perrier-Jouët’s signature style, made of 50% Chardonnay from Grands Crus as Cramant & Avize, 45% of Pinot Noir from Mailly, Verzy, Verzenay and 5% Pinot Meunier from Dizy.
British wine expert Serena Sutcliffe MW commented: “I was in heaven, I love matured wines and some of them in jeroboam format still have a great future ahead of them” whilst French wine author Michel Bettane explained : “What’s interesting with Jeroboams is that the wine presents better, as the senses are less dominated by the carbonic gas. One finds more ‘vinosity’ and greater roundness: I was delighted to discover the wine itself.”
Perrier-Jouët ‘s bicentenary tasting 2011: Wine Experts Photo
Photograph Courtesy Perrier-Jouët
The 1985 and 1975 vintages were hailed as highlights; with the jeroboam of Belle Epoque 1985 recorded by one expert as “simply sensational with a long life ahead” and the 1975 vintage described as “the ultimate expression and achievement of Belle Epoque; mellow, harmonious, and with an incredible sweetness.”
During the course of the two-day private event, guests were also treated to a sumptuous champagne-paired gala dinner, devised by acclaimed French chef Jean-Louis Nomicos and Michel Dubois, chef of the prestigious Maison Belle Epoque, who together recreated the 1911 Perrier-Jouët Centenary Menu to complement a range of more recent Perrier-Jouët gems. These included the exceptional Belle Epoque 1998 in magnum, the cuvee de grande garde at the heart Perrier-Jouët Bi-Centenaire, the world’s first “Living Legacy Champagne,” which was unveiled in Paris this March.
André Baveret and Hervé Deschamps
Photograph by Harcourt Studio Paris
All the champagnes tasted were the creation of André Baveret and Hervé Deschamps, only the sixth and seventh cellar masters respectively in the 200-year history of Perrier-Jouët and their achievement in balancing perfectly the diversity of each vintage’s individual character with Perrier-Jouët signature style, as a tribute of an expertise passed on over two centuries.
Please drink responsibly.
Perrier-Jouët website: www.perrier-jouet.com
