There’s Champagne, and then there’s the bottle you recognise from across the room.
Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Brut 2014 is the prestige vintage cuvée of Maison Perrier Jouët and one of Champagne’s most instantly recognisable wines. First created in 1964, Belle Epoque is produced only in selected vintages and represents the elegant, floral style that has defined the house for generations.
The 2014 vintage is composed of 50% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir and 5% Meunier, sourced from six emblematic crus including Cramant, Avize, Chouilly, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Vertus and Mailly. It spends a minimum of six years ageing in the Maison’s cellars, developing complexity while retaining the freshness and delicacy at the heart of the Perrier-Jouët style.
In the glass, it’s beautifully poised rather than excessively powerful. Vine peach and poached pear lead the fruit profile, joined by delicate linden and hawthorn blossom. Juicy stone fruit carries through onto the palate, where tangy rhubarb introduces freshness and tension.
And then there’s the bottle.
The famous white Japanese anemones were designed for Perrier-Jouët by Art Nouveau master Émile Gallé in 1902. More than a century later, they remain one of the most recognisable pieces of packaging in Champagne.
Fortunately, what's inside is every bit as elegant as what's outside.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Pale, luminous gold with a fine and persistent mousse.
Nose: Delicate and expressive, with vine peach and poached pear accompanied by linden and hawthorn blossom. As it opens, subtle citrus, brioche and gentle honeyed notes begin to emerge.
Palate: Refined and beautifully textured. Juicy peach and pear provide generous fruit, balanced by tangy rhubarb and vibrant acidity. Fine bubbles, subtle minerality and gentle autolytic complexity give the wine impressive depth without sacrificing its characteristic elegance.
Finish: Long, precise and refreshing, with lingering orchard fruit, citrus, delicate florals and a subtle mineral character.
Technical Details
Producer: Perrier-Jouët
Origin: Épernay, Champagne, France
Appellation: Champagne AOC
Cuvée: Belle Epoque Brut
Vintage: 2014
Blend: 50% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 5% Meunier
Dosage: 8g/L
Minimum Ageing: 6 Years
ABV: 12.5%
Bottle Size: 750ml
Recommended Serving Temperature: Around 12°C
Style: Prestige Vintage Brut Champagne
Food Pairing
This is absolutely capable of being enjoyed on its own, but Belle Epoque 2014 has enough structure to be taken seriously at the table.
Perrier-Jouët recommends pairings including king prawns, sole meunière, creamy polenta, white peaches, Parmesan and Comté.
Seafood and delicate fish dishes are particularly good territory, while the combination of freshness and mature Champagne complexity makes it equally comfortable alongside richer poultry or aged cheeses.
Why It's Worth a Look
Belle Epoque sits at the top of the Perrier-Jouët range for good reason.
It combines the house's trademark floral elegance with the additional depth and complexity that comes from vintage selection and extended cellar ageing. The 2014 is particularly attractive because it remains fresh and energetic while already showing the richer secondary character that makes mature prestige Champagne so compelling.
And, of course, there's that bottle.
Émile Gallé's anemone design has adorned Belle Epoque for decades, turning it into one of those rare wines where throwing the empty bottle away feels mildly criminal.
Delivery within South Africa:
All orders are delivered from our central warehouse located in Montague Gardens, Western Cape. Local orders are usually delivered in 0-2 working days. Orders outside of Cape Town but within SA are generally delivered within 2-5 working days. If you require expedited delivery, we now offer an Express delivery service, which typically takes 1-3 working days, depending on your area.
While we strive for timely deliveries, there are occasional instances where delays may occur. These are rare but can happen due to unforeseen circumstances.
Delivery Rates:
At checkout, you will be presented with delivery options and corresponding rates. These rates are provided directly by our courier partners and are displayed as is. On rare occasions, a courier may generate an incorrect delivery rate due to issues with the address recognition. In such cases, we will arrange for an alternative courier to deliver your order at a similar rate to the original cost.
We believe in offering transparency in our delivery fees and, as such, do not include any delivery costs in our product pricing. We do not profit from delivery fees.
Third-Party Couriers:
For the majority of our orders, we rely on third-party courier services for delivery. Regular notifications will be sent and on the day of delivery the couriers will notify you via sms, call or email . If the courier is unable to reach you, we will get in touch with you to arrange an alternative solution.
Please note, you will be required to sign upon delivery, and the drivers may request a form of identification.
If there is something wrong with your product, we will gladly issue a full refund of 100% of your purchase amount. To process this, please reach out to us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za as soon as possible, and we will guide you through the refund process.
Order Cancellations:
If you need to cancel your order, simply email us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za, and we’ll assist you with the cancellation process. Please note, cancellations will incur a small fee of 10%, which covers the transaction fees we incur for processing each order. If your order has already been shipped, please be aware that the shipping fee is non-refundable.
Consignment Orders:
We do not offer consignment stock or consignment deals.
Returns:
If you find that there is an issue with your product, you are eligible to return it to us. Here’s how you can initiate the return:
- Email us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za to notify us of your intent to return the product. We will then guide you through the process.
- Our returns policy is valid for 7 working days from the date of delivery. Unfortunately, if 7 working days have passed since the delivery of your purchase, we cannot offer a refund or exchange.
- To be eligible for a return, the item must be unused and in the same condition as when you received it. It must also be in its original packaging. A 10% Fee will be charged on returns, unless the product was damaged or incorrectly supplied by Mothercity Liquor.
Return Shipping & Delivery Fees
Please note that original shipping or delivery fees are non-refundable. Where a refund is approved, the refund will apply to the eligible returned product(s) only and will exclude any shipping or delivery charges paid on the original order.
Unless the return is due to an incorrect, damaged, or defective product supplied by Mothercity Liquor, the cost of returning the product(s) to us is the responsibility of the customer. Customers are responsible for arranging and paying for return shipping and for ensuring that the products are securely packaged to prevent damage in transit.
We strongly recommend using a trackable and insured courier service when returning products. Mothercity Liquor cannot be held responsible for returned goods that are lost or damaged while in transit to us.
Where Mothercity Liquor supplied an incorrect, damaged, or defective product, we will arrange or cover the reasonable cost of returning the affected product, subject to the terms of our Returns Policy.
Exceptions to Returns:
Sale or Special Offer Items: Only regular-priced items are eligible for a refund. Unfortunately, items purchased on sale or as part of a special offer cannot be refunded.
Subscription Terms & Conditions:
- By purchasing a Subscription, you agree to recurring automatic payments based on your selected delivery frequency (monthly, every 2 months or every 3 months etc).
- Your subscription will automatically renew and your payment method will be charged on the same calendar day as your original purchase until your subscription is cancelled.
- Minimum Commitment: Subscription pricing includes a discounted rate and therefore requires a minimum commitment of two (2) deliveries. Cancellation requests will only be accepted after your second subscription box has been successfully delivered.
- Cancellation requests must be submitted before your next billing date. If your payment has already been processed, that month's subscription will still be fulfilled and dispatched.
- Subscription payments are non-refundable once they have been successfully processed, except where required by applicable South African consumer protection laws.
- In the event that a product becomes unavailable, Mothercity Liquor reserves the right to substitute it with a product of equal or greater value.
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