Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut Laurent Perrier

Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut is Champagne in its purest, most uncompromising form – a bone-dry, no-dosage cuvée that lets the chalky soils of Champagne speak clearly in the glass. Crafted from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this Ultra Brut is all about precision, elegance and minerality, with no added sugar to soften the edges. First launched in the early 1980s, it helped pioneer the modern movement toward extra-brut and zero-dosage Champagnes, and remains a reference point for lovers of ultra-dry sparkling wines.

Tasting Notes
Pale, crystalline straw in the glass with silvery reflections and a fine, persistent bead of bubbles, Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut immediately signals its purity and freshness. The nose is delicate yet focused: green apple, lemon zest and pear mingle with white flowers, fresh almond and a distinct chalky minerality. Subtle notes of brioche and wet stone add complexity without ever feeling heavy. On the palate, this is razor-clean and linear, with vibrant acidity balanced by a surprisingly silky texture. Flavors of citrus, crisp orchard fruits and white peach are layered over saline, flinty undertones, giving the wine a mouthwatering, almost crystalline character. The complete absence of dosage makes every nuance of fruit and terroir feel precise and transparent. This cuvée drinks beautifully now for its tension and freshness, but with several years in bottle it develops more complexity, gaining hints of toast, hazelnut and honeyed notes while retaining its signature dry, mineral backbone.

Production
Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut is sourced from carefully selected Chardonnay and Pinot Noir parcels across some of Champagne’s coolest, chalk-rich crus, where grapes naturally achieve excellent ripeness balanced by high acidity. Only the healthiest, ripest bunches are hand-harvested to ensure sufficient natural sugar and flavor concentration, a necessity for a zero-dosage style. After gentle pressing, the must is vinified primarily in temperature-controlled stainless steel to preserve purity and aromatics, with a focus on achieving perfect balance before secondary fermentation in bottle. The wine then rests on its lees for extended aging—typically around six years—building texture and complexity before disgorgement, where no dosage is added, leaving the Champagne utterly dry and true to its terroir.

Food & Serving
This ultra-dry Champagne is superb as an aperitif for those who enjoy a crisp, structured style, and it shines at the table with delicately flavored dishes. Think oysters on the half shell, sashimi, ceviche, and simply grilled fish, as well as scallop carpaccio or lobster tartare. It also pairs beautifully with sushi, tempura, goat’s cheese, and light vegetable dishes with citrus or herbal accents. Serve well chilled, ideally around 8–10°C (46–50°F), in a good tulip-shaped flute or white-wine glass. A brief 10–15 minutes in the glass is enough “decanting” time for the wine to open and reveal its full aromatic profile; no traditional decanting vessel is necessary.

Producer
Founded in 1812 in the heart of Champagne, Laurent-Perrier has grown from a family house into one of the region’s most respected and innovative producers. Based in Tours-sur-Marne, a grand cru village, the estate is renowned for its Chardonnay-driven style, emphasizing finesse, freshness and elegance. Over the decades, Laurent-Perrier has helped shape modern Champagne, not only with its iconic Cuvée Rosé but also with pioneering low- and zero-dosage cuvées like Ultra Brut. Today, the house is celebrated worldwide for its consistent quality, extensive vineyard partnerships and its role in elevating Champagne from a celebratory drink to a gastronomic wine category in its own right.