Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle No 26 Sun King

Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle No. 26 Sun King is a prestige cuvée Champagne blending three exceptional vintages in a 750ml bottle at 12% ABV. Awarded a perfect 100 points by James Suckling and named his #1 Top 100 Wine of 2023, this iteration represents one of the most acclaimed releases in the Grand Siècle lineage.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12%  |  Origin: Champagne, France  |  Multi-Vintage Prestige Cuvée  |  Producer: Laurent-Perrier (est. 1812)

Production & Heritage

Laurent-Perrier, founded in 1812 in Tours-sur-Marne, created Grand Siècle as a prestige cuvée that deliberately rejects the single-vintage model. Instead, each iteration blends three outstanding harvest years to approximate a hypothetical perfect vintage. No. 26 combines 65% from the 2012 vintage, 25% from 2008, and 10% from 2007, with Chardonnay dominant at 58% alongside 42% Pinot Noir. All base wines are fermented in 100% stainless-steel tanks — no oak is used at any stage — preserving purity and precision. The final blend rested for a full 10 years on its lees before disgorgement, developing the layered complexity that distinguishes this release.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with honeysuckle, lemon zest, and clementine before revealing deeper layers of fresh butter, hazelnut, and a delicate thread of honey. Subtle pie crust and salted caramel notes emerge with time in the glass.

Taste: The entry is precise and Chardonnay-driven, with candied lemon brightness and crushed mineral intensity leading the way. The mid-palate broadens into flaked almonds, dried pear, and tarte tatin richness, while fresh ginger and hints of nutmeg add spice at the peak. The texture is silky throughout, with fine, persistent mousse carrying each flavor cleanly.

Finish: Long and mineral, tapering with honeysuckle, smoke, and cool mint. A saline edge and lingering hazelnut character give the finish remarkable persistence and grip.

How to Drink Grand Siècle No. 26

This Champagne is at its most expressive served in a large white wine glass at 50–54°F, allowing the aromatics to fully develop. Neat and unadorned is the primary serve — the complexity built over a decade on lees deserves undivided attention. For a refined Champagne Cocktail, the wine's honeysuckle and hazelnut depth replaces simpler alternatives with real gravitas. In a French 75, the citrus brightness and mineral backbone cut through the gin and lemon beautifully. A Kir Royale using a small measure of high-quality crème de cassis complements the dried fruit and spice notes without overpowering them.

Best For

• Celebrating a milestone anniversary, retirement, or once-in-a-lifetime achievement
• Gifting a serious wine collector who values critical acclaim
• Serving as the centerpiece pour at an intimate dinner party
• Adding a benchmark prestige cuvée to a cellar collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Grand Siècle No. 26 taste like? It leads with bright candied lemon and crushed mineral notes, evolving into flaked almond, dried pear, and tarte tatin richness on a silky, fine-beaded palate. The finish is long and smoky with lingering hazelnut and honeysuckle.

How does Grand Siècle No. 26 compare to Krug Grande Cuvée? Both are multi-vintage prestige Champagnes, but Grand Siècle blends exactly three declared vintage years rather than Krug's broader reserve library spanning many harvests. Grand Siècle No. 26 also uses exclusively stainless-steel fermentation, while Krug incorporates small oak barrels, resulting in a leaner, more mineral-driven profile for the Laurent-Perrier.

Is Grand Siècle No. 26 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a contemplative Champagne designed for focused drinking. Ten years on the lees and a 100-point James Suckling score confirm its depth rewards slow, attentive tasting.

Where is Grand Siècle No. 26 made? It is produced by Laurent-Perrier in Tours-sur-Marne, in the Champagne region of northeastern France. The grapes are sourced from top-rated Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards across three separate vintage years.

What foods pair well with Grand Siècle No. 26? Lobster thermidor complements the wine's buttery richness and mineral spine. Aged Comté cheese echoes the hazelnut and toasted notes. Seared scallops with brown butter mirror the almond and honeysuckle aromas. Raw oysters amplify the saline finish. Roasted chicken with tarragon matches the wine's weight without competing with its elegance.

What sizes does Grand Siècle No. 26 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, and Laurent-Perrier also produces Grand Siècle in magnum (1.5L) format.

Is Grand Siècle No. 26 worth the price? Grand Siècle No. 26 sits firmly in the ultra-premium prestige cuvée tier, and its critical reception — including two perfect 100-point scores and a 97 from Wine Enthusiast — positions it among the most decorated Champagne releases in recent memory, justifying its place at the top of the category.

Why Grand Siècle No. 26?

No other prestige Champagne release in 2023 matched the critical consensus surrounding this wine: a perfect 100 from James Suckling, 100 from the Bettane & Desseauve Guide, 98 from Falstaff, 97 from Wine Enthusiast, 96 from both Decanter and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, and 19.5 out of 20 from Jancis Robinson. The three-vintage blending philosophy — here combining the generosity of 2012, the structure of 2008, and the maturity of 2007 — produces a Champagne impossible to achieve from any single harvest. A full decade of lees aging in stainless-steel-fermented base wines delivers purity alongside complexity, a combination that earned Grand Siècle No. 26 the top position on James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of 2023 list. For collectors and serious Champagne drinkers, this iteration sets a modern benchmark.