In an industry that has embraced more power and richness, with the rise of the grower movement as well as warmer years, Perrier-Jouët’s dedication to elegance and floral expression presents an inspiring blueprint for what lies ahead.
“Cramant has always been the signature cru of Perrier-Jouët,” explains Cellar Master Séverine Frerson, at the Maison’s cellars located on the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay. Since taking on the role in 2020, Frerson has been the chief custodian of Perrier-Jouët’s unmistakable botanical style which has historically come from 20 hectares of prime Côte des Blancs vineyards acquired by Pierre-Nicolas Perrier in Cramant, notably the plots Bourrons du Midi and Bourrons le Roy, in 1848. The first Belle Époque was a 100 percent Cramant champagne from 1964, underscoring the village’s deep-rooted role in the House DNA.
Cramant is one of the crown jewels of the Côte des Blancs, and its typicity is deeply tied to its Grand Cru status, chardonnay dominance, and distinctive terroir that imparts density and creaminess to its wines, though Perrier-Jouët pursues something more ephemeral.
“Our style has more florality, minerality, salinity and texture. It’s very silky, and sometimes velvety like in warmer years such as 2017,” she says.
Elaborating Florality in Years and Terroirs
Perrier-Jouët’s floral signature manifests differently with each vintage, highlighting how terroir and vintage interact.
The ‘solar’ 2017 Belle Époque Blanc de Blancs, harvested unusually early on August 25th, reveals mimosa blossom and verbena with ‘lemon from Nice’. “It’s very juicy and gourmet, like a lemon confit,” says Frerson also highlighting the wine’s verticality and precision.
In contrast, the more oceanic 2014 vintage, harvested in September under more classical conditions, expresses delicate carnation flowers and mandarin blossom, with greater roundness and creaminess.
Perrier-Jouët works with ten separate plots within Cramant, each contributing its own nuance to the final blend. Whilst south-facing slopes dominate, east and west exposures add their own distinct characteristics.
Frerson vinifies each plot separately to preserve their individual textures and aromas, allowing greater precision and almost endless blending possibilities.
Regenerative Renaissance: More than a Scientific Approach
According to Frerson, the key to unlocking better aromatic expressions lies in an ambitious shift toward regenerative viticulture under a program commenced the year she arrived, in 2020. In the past five years, Perrier-Jouët has converted 49% of its 65-hectare estate—including 18 hectares in Cramant—to regenerative practices. The goal is full conversion by 2030.
“We plant flower cover or use biomass every second row to keep the life in the soil,” Frerson explains, describing a carefully orchestrated cycle that begins immediately after harvest.This isn’t just philosophical — it’s scientifically measurable. Nitrogen levels have doubled compared to more conventional plots, demonstrating the soil’s enhanced biological activity.
Perhaps most crucially for climate adaptation, the biomass creates a natural cooling effect. “I remember when I touched the soil in 2023, it was so fresh,” she recalls about a year that experienced exceptionally high temperatures peaking at 38 degrees.
The impact extends far beyond soil health; flowering has also changed, resulting in wines with distinctly different characteristics. Biomass cover has enhanced the freshness and vertical structure of the wines, while floral cover creates more complex, elegant expressions.
Precision through Innovation and Tradition
Vinification takes place in a new winery designed for maximum precision.
“I want to have a lot of precision of this terroir,” Frerson emphasises about the vineyards in the Côte des Blancs, allowing each micro-site’s personality to emerge before blending decisions are made.
Oak has also returned to certain cuvées (like a small portion in the Grand Brut) — but not in the way one might expect. Nine foudres plus 36 barrels sourced from Burgundian cooperage Tonnellerie Chassin are used exclusively for chardonnay and solely for texture enhancement.
“I do not want to have the aromas of the oak, I want to have the feeling,” she explains. “And maybe just a little vanilla, but no more.”
This textural approach, combined with both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in wood, creates the trademark silky texture that enhances Perrier-Jouët’s style without overwhelming the delicate floral profile.
Climate Adaptation and Strategic Evolution
As climate change reshapes Champagne’s growing conditions, Perrier-Jouët is on the front foot with its adaptation strategies to maintain House style.
Since 2020, Frerson has blocked malolactic fermentation in several wines to preserve freshness, also selectively choosing to use the technique based on vintage conditions rather than applying it universally.
In warmer years, the Maison balances its trademark silky texture with freshness by adjusting dosage levels. Some cuvées now receive as little as 6 grams of dosage, and future vintages may require only 3–4 grams.
At the premium level, each Belle Époque release uses different reserve wines for dosage, tailored to complement the vintage’s unique character.
A Vision for Tomorrow
Frerson reflects on vintages like 2024, emphasising the importance of achieving very straight and vertical wines and how climate adaptation is key to the future.
In an industry that has embraced more power and richness—driven by the grower movement and warmer years—Perrier-Jouët’s dedication to elegance and floral expression presents an inspiring blueprint for what lies ahead.
