Laurent-Perrier

Laurent-Perrier is one of the last large family-owned Champagne houses, based in Tours-sur-Marne and founded in 1812. The name comes from a cellar master, Eugene Laurent, and his widow Mathilde Perrier, who joined the two surnames together in the 19th century; the modern house was built after the Second World War by Bernard de Nonancourt, whose family still holds the majority. The de Nonancourt era set the house style - freshness, purity and finesse.

That style rests on technique: Laurent-Perrier was an early, wholesale convert to stainless steel and uses no oak, fermenting cool to keep the fruit bright. Among the big names it leans on Chardonnay, long aging on the lees, and low dosage.