NV Collard Picard Perpetuelle 12 Années

Previously known as their Cuvée Prestige, Collard-Picard’s Perpetuelle 12 Années is a favourite of ours from this little-known House (now with a smart new label, too). Made with fruit from the Côte des Blancs and Marne Valley, this is made with 50% Chardonnay and 25% each of Pinot Noir and Meunier. As the name suggests, the wine is a blend of 12 vintages. This bottling is based in 2019 (representing 30%), with the remaining 70% from 2008 through to 2018. The base wines all spend 12-15 months on fine lees in large oak, with no malolactic fermentation, preserving the wine’s bright acidity. The wine spent 49 months on lees, as you can tell from its depth and complexity, before being disgorged in June 2023. The nose is bright yet creamy, with autolytic richness (freshly baked brioche) playing alongside tangy lemon peel. The palate is vibrant and long – building in intensity with a crescendo of citrus and green apple framed by spicy, savoury, smoky tones. The mousse is gorgeously soft and fine, with a mineral backbone that balances out the intensity of the fruit. A superb wine, and quite possibly our favourite iteration of this wine to date.