My Mom is my drinking companion and has been for many a year at this point. She has always enjoyed a glass or two and nothing has changed. For her birthday this year I got her a bottle of Perrier Jouet Grand Brut delivered to her house. Despite her birthday being in September, we only just opened the bottle on New Year’s Eve to toast with my Dad and my Sister. I made a mushroom risotto which was actually a nice pairing with this Champagne. Of course, anything is a nice pairing with Champagne in my book. I had bought the funghi in Milan this fall and everything had been waiting. I was gifted an amazing packet of risotto during a press trip to Oltrepo’ Pavese in September by the owners of Albergo Selvatico. I need to write about the seven course meal they prepared for us on our last night of the trip as well. Every detail was fascinating and local. When we left the hotel, they gifted each person on the trip a brick of Carnaroli rice with which to make risotto. Apparently it differs from Arborio in that it makes plumper, thicker risotto. The risotto was so delicious that I had more than one helping as did everyone else, including Mom, so maybe the difference was the rice. It was a fun dish for New Year’s Eve and apparently is one of the most typical items people make for the holiday. I had no idea.

The choice to buy a Perrier Jouet Cuvée was dictated both by availability but also memories of drinking their champagnes in the past. Additionally, their commitment to Art seemed appropriate as my Mom is a sculptor and a painter. Moreover, Mom is an observer of nature in all of its forms so that connection to the philosophy of the Maison appealed to me. Lastly, they have a female cellar master, Séverine Frerson became their eighth cellar master in October 2020. Frerson is the first female to hold this position at this Champagne house, which is always of interest to me as I like to promote and buy brands that give women equal opportunities.

History of the Maison:

The Maison was started in 1811 by Pierre-Nicolas Perrier and Rose-Adélaïde Jouët. Apparently they were a love match that shared interests – nature and art. Their child, Charles, also inherited their passions and when he took over the Champagne House in 1848, he continued what they had started.

Tasting note:

Gorgeous lemon- gold in color with numerous, fine bubbles and a beautiful perlage. Iimmediate aromas of yeast, brioche, toast, white stone fruit, and white flowers showed on the nose, followed on the palate by similar flavors with a creamy and enveloping mouthfeel. It was persistent, balanced, and had a long finish. 

Generous and balanced it could pair well with the entire meal from appetizers to the main course which in our case was risotto con funghi. There was enough structure and acidity to play with the risotto but it was delicate enough not to overwhelm the dish. I was super pleased with the whole experience as a nice way to ring in the New Year.

I also love the Art forms on the box pictured below. Santé!