January 14, 2024 - Very good but too young, recommend waiting 5+ years
January 8, 2024 - I got to this bottle very late unfortunately. Pretty fruit forward for a Brut in my opinion but the few wines I have had from P. Jouet have been a bit fruit forward I got to this after the carbonation was no longer!! unfortunately. Good minerality still an a good backbone supports this wine. Good acidity also. Wish I could’ve got to this while it was fresh. Still a good drinking wine. And dEf still enjoyed drinking it despite “no bubbles”
December 6, 2023 - Blind, from MAG. This was very popular at the table tonight, most preople preferred this over the also stunning Grand Siecle #26, which was more expressive and my favorite. The 2012 Belle Epoque has enormous precision on the palate, fine perlage. Nose of citrus some brioche, holding back still. So much delineation and poise. Clearly too young. Drink after 2030. 96+
October 7, 2023 - I have fond memories of the 1985 and then 1988 vintages of this champagne, back when I first learnt to love this champagne! The subsequent vintages, probably owing to my own evolution, seem disappointing in comparison, but of course are still excellent, just perhaps no longer my favourite, other than for sentimental reasons. They seem to be released close to 10 years after the vintage and I would not suggest keeping them much longer before drinking.
September 28, 2023 - Still a little closed and youthful, very good freshness and volume here. The Rosé was more expressive today. This will be great though with a little more time as well.
August 24, 2023 - This only needed 30 min in the glass to open up. A well balanced wine at this point with upside potential. This should reach prime time in another 5-7 years and drink well through 2035.
July 16, 2023 - Very different than my last bottle a year ago—seems more like bottle variation than evolution but who knows. This was still excellent and I think one of the underrated house champagnes.
Crisp citrus, yeasty, bready, perfect tiny bubbles. A bit more savory and perhaps cheesey notes vs last time. I enjoyed this. Great with lobster ravioli (probably great with anything)
June 28, 2023 - Pronounced nose intensity with lemon, pear, red apple, bread, brioche, yeast, toast. Bold and aromatic. High acidity.
March 3, 2023 - Tasted blind. In a very tough competition, where it fell far behind other prestiges. Rather anonymous, with grilled lemon, some maturity tones.
November 5, 2022 - Danish Top 20 champagne blind tasting vintage 2012 (24 btls) (Nimb): Horisontal half blind tasting of 24 top champagnes from vintage 2012. Conclusion: It is a great vintage. My topratings were to some extent unexpected. My winner was Diebolt-Vallois Fleur de Passion which I rated 96. In a shared second place with 94+ were Legras Saint Vincent (unexpected but I don't forget that 1996 might be the best champagne I have ever tasted so far. Try to get a btl. if you can. It is difficult but worth it - still in a perfect drinking window), Veuve Clicquot vintage(!), Moet & Chandon Grand vintage(!) and Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque.
This wine: Lemon color. Non oxidative style. Extremely nice and delicate aromas. Dried fruit, blossom, toast. On the palate also strawberry and grapefruit (a little bitterness). Creamy mousse. 94+