Description & elaboration
The La Côte à Bras 2016 cuvée from Joseph Perrier is a blanc de noirs champagne from a single plot. It is a champagne with notes of jammy cherry — vivid strawberry — and delicate iris blossom. On the palate, the texture is fleshy, with a saline finish that calls for seafood.
The Terroir
The grapes come exclusively from the Premier Cru village of Cumières, a marly terroir traditionally dedicated to Pinot Meunier. The blend focuses on the lieu-dit La Côte à Bras, a 77-are plot with full south-facing exposure.
The vines, planted around forty years ago, draw deep from an clay-limestone soil. The pronounced slope ensures efficient natural drainage.
Winemaking
Cellar master Nathalie Laplaige separates the musts immediately after pressing. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, followed by malolactic fermentation (the conversion of malic acid into lactic acid, which softens the structure) to round out the base wines.
The wines age in the cellar for 72 months on lees. This extended rest refines the bubble and develops a fuller texture along with subtle pastry notes. Late disgorgement preserves the overall freshness.
The 2016 vintage
In Champagne, 2016 followed a climatically contrasted year. A very wet spring created significant disease pressure, before a dry summer turned things around. A sunny August gave the grape clusters the conditions they needed to ripen well.
On the Cumières terroir, the end of the season was mild. The black grape varieties reached excellent ripeness, with naturally high acidity in the musts. The resulting alcohol-acidity balance underpins a solid ageing potential: the wines of this vintage are fresh, structured and taut.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
The colour of the La Côte à Bras 2016 cuvée is luminous. It displays a sparkling golden hue, pure and clear, with subtle copper highlights.
Nose
The nose bears the fruity imprint of ripe black grapes. It reveals expressive aromas of strawberry and jammy cherry, lifted by a blend of spiced notes and a peppery background.
Palate
The attack is lively and broad. The palate is fleshy, intensely fruity, carried by pressed citrus fruits. The wine concludes with a delicately saline and persistent finish.
Food pairing suggestions
- Scallop carpaccio
- Sea bass carpaccio
- Sea bream ceviche
- Roasted duck fillet
- Porcini mushroom risotto
- Thyme-roasted poultry
- Aged Chaource
- Ewe's milk tomme
- Pomelo tart
The Plus de Bulles expert's opinion
Why I love it?
I was captivated by the brilliance of this cuvée. Its floral nose of daffodil opens onto a lively, broad palate, blending pressed citrus with gentle spice. It is a fresh wine with a deliciously lingering finish.
My recommendation
Serve at 10–12 °C in a white wine glass alongside a sea bream ceviche. Its structure allows for superb cellaring through to 2038.
Tips & advice
How to store this champagne?
Plus de Bulles ships this bottle (75 cl) in specially designed shock-resistant cartons for champagne transport. After receipt, store the bottle horizontally, away from light. A cellar with a stable temperature is ideal; otherwise, a cool, not too dry spot will do the job.
Ageing potential
The La Côte à Bras 2016 from Joseph Perrier will continue to evolve over several years. This bottle has an ageing capacity of approximately 12 years.
- Until 2026: the wine offers tertiary notes of dried fruit and toasted hazelnut.
- From 2027: the champagne evolves towards cinnamon, vanilla and gentle spice.
- Around 2028: the 2016 vintage reaches its full aromatic maturity, between candied fruit and integrated minerality.
Serving recommendations
This cuvée is best served at a temperature of 10–12 °C. A wide white wine glass encourages the expression of the spiced notes and the complexity of the clay-limestone terroir. A brief aeration in the glass is recommended before tasting.
A note about this cuvée
The desire to isolate the lieu-dit La Côte à Bras dates back to 2007, driven by Benjamin Fourmon. This micro-plot philosophy complements the house's classic range and sets itself apart from the pure expression of a blanc de blancs champagne uniting several crus.
The strictly limited production underlines the confidential nature of this initiative. Enthusiasts will find a precise geological reading of the Cumières landscape. A similar approach exists in another single-vineyard vintage blanc de blancs champagne from the house.
