Made from equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the 2012 Champagne Brut Millésime is the 30th vintage of this cuvée, and the next vintage will be 2015. For at least the last five vintages, the wine was aged a minimum of 10 years. A bright straw/silver color, the 2012 is bright and expressive with fresh, concentrated notes of pure pear, crushed stones, white flowers, pastry dough, and lime blossoms. The palate has wonderful tension and concentration, with a chiseled and well-defined feel to its ripe notes of lime and a hint of Pinot Noir spice, and as it opens in the glass and its Pinot Noir side starts to shine through, it expresses a slightly warmer side to the wine. The mousse is refined and lively, with a pinpoint feel, and it’s long on the palate, with a clean finish. This is a very impressive vintage from Laurent-Perrier. Drink 2024-2044.

The 2012 vintage from Laurent-Perrier has mysterious, smoky aromas of quince and apricot fruit, with shadings of brioche and ground coffee, leading into a surprisingly rich texture on the palate. Still, there is abundant acidity to keep everything in balance, and the wine lingers moreishly on the palate. The wine is half Pinot Noir and half Chardonnay from top villages, including Oger, Cramant and Chouilly for the Chardonnay and Bouzy, Aÿ and Verzy for the Pinot.

A blend of equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the 2012 Brut Millésimé offers up aromas of lemon oil, confit citrus, spices, almonds, spring blossoms and warm biscuits. Medium to full-bodied, enrobing and charming, it's precise and layered, with good depth at the core, resulting from the 2012 vintage, enhanced by bright acids and concluding with a delicate, vanilla-inflected finish. Dosage: eight grams per liter.