Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve Blanc de Blancs Champagne

WW&S Comments:

Pierre Peters is not like other Champagne. Lovingly tended by Pierre and his son Rudolf it hails from a tiny slice of vineyard land called Le Mesnil (lay-may-knee). Le Mesnil is responsible for some of the greatest grapes of the Cote Blanc in Champagne. But most Champagne houses just blend away Le Mesnil’s magnificence, or charge you enormous sums of money for it: the aforementioned Dom P. is partially blended from Le Mesnil. The Champagne house Krug makes a single vineyard bottling of Le Mesnil – at over 100 times the price of Pierre Peter’s Champagne.

Pierre and Rudolf only own Grand Cru vineyard land in Le Mesnil and aren’t into ego-pricing. They want you to enjoy drinking their Champagne, not make an investment decision. And what a great Champagne it is.

You will notice, right from the cork pull, how beautiful it is – aromas of roses and violets intermingle with freshly baked croissants and sugar cookies. Don’t use a flute glass when drinking this Champagne. Flutes kill a Champagne’s aromas – which may actually make the drinking experience more palatable with most Champagnes – but not with Pierre Peter’s. Pour this into a glass and let the aromas envelop you. Le Mesnil is a sweet spot for making Blanc de Blanc and it shows across the palate – rich, mouth-coating, and full of tastes of freshly baked Parker rolls with creamed butter on top. The mousse is delicate, round and soft like laying your head on a down pillow. This is Champagne that commands attention while at the same time not losing its delicate charm.

Critical Acclaim:

“The always smiling and tremendously skillful François Péters controls 17.5 hectares, twelve of which lie in the very best parts of Le Mesnil. For several years grapes from the [80-year] old vines in Les Chétillons were included in the vintage wine, but nowadays they make a Cuvée Spéciale from grapes from this unique location. . . . The enthusiasm over this wine all over the world is huge—and that’s before anyone has had a chance to taste a mature bottle. Mesnil’s wines take a long time to mature, but champagne from Peters offers from the start an accessible fruitiness that resembles tangerine and a large portion of butterscotch and nut aromas. With age they become majestic and deep as a water well, full of coffee and walnut aromas and a fleeting vibrant exotic fruitiness. Pierre Péters is a hidden treasure of Champagne . . . and the prices are laughable considering the quality of the wines.” -Richard Juhlin, 4000 Champagnes

“93 points.

“[$65 list] Vibrant, this elegant blanc de blancs is driven by a chalky underpinning, with flavors of poached pear, apple blossom and pickled ginger. Disgorged December 2016. Drink now through 2022.” – Wine Spectator

“93 points.

“60% current vintage, 40% reserve solera dating from 1988; grand cru Côte des Blancs; 7.5g/L dosage; DIAM closure). With all the theatrics of Péters’ masterful reserve solera, this is a deeply layered cuvée with notes of mixed spice, mandarin and orange. The 2012 base captures the focus, energy and stature of grand cru Côte des Blancs in a riper and more approachable style. Chalk-focused minerality makes for a finely poised and long finish.” – Tylson Stelzer, The Champagne Guide

“93 points.

“A subtle florality plays on the citrus nose. The palate is still taut, almost raw, with freshness. The mousse is lively and brisk. This seems too young, too disturbed after being woken from its slumber on lees. Right now, all is freshness, urgency, and energy. The balance is there, so is the hinted-at depth. Perhaps it is the tasting sequence, but this seems so very young and raw. The finish is lip-smacking, moreish, and long. (Issue 62; 2018)” – Anne Krebiehl The World of Fine Wine