The WineAt 90%, Pinot Noir predominates this age-worthy blend, lending the structure that is so typical of Veuve Clicquot, while Chardonnay (10%) adds elegance and finesse. The dosage is a very small 6g/L, leaving the wine with lip-smacking crispness despite its age and complexity. The grand cru vineyards are found in Aÿ, Verzenay, Verzy, Ambonnay and Bouzy.
Initial notes of white flowers on the nose, such as jasmine, honeysuckle and vine flowers can be felt and then opens with fruitier nuances of apple, pear and peach. A few notes of fresh almond and frangipane complete the bouquet. In the mouth, the cuvée reveals more complex aromas: dried apricot, hazelnuts, honey and sugar candy. Silky textures give the wine its personality, elegance and character. The aging has imparted particular depth and power to the wine.
This (2012) is the most recent vintage of Grande Dame. With an immense aging potential (~15+ years), this wine will have soft bubbles and a mouth-filling palate that ends with enough crispness to keep the taster longing for the next sip.
The incredible label design and packaging was provided by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. It brings an element of fun and whimsy to the experience of buying, storing, displaying and enjoying this bottle - exactly what one wants from a Champagne experience!
The Winery
Audacious and intelligent. These are the two words often used to describe the widow Clicquot, one of the first women to run a company in France.
In 1805, Madame Clicquot was just 28 when the death of Francois Clicquot (her husband and the son of the founder) placed her in the unique position of selecting a successor to run the family business, or to do so herself. As the daughter of Baron Nicolas Ponsardin, she had been given a first-class education and managed to avoid persecution during and after the French Revolution. She felt she was more than ready to navigate around the challenges presented by a competitive landscape, challenges amplified by the gender prejudices of her day.
In an homage to this heritage, the winery seeks to inspire people through their New Makers Collective. The goal of the collective is to encourage chefs to dream bigger and to lead a more exciting life. Brought together at the winery facility in Reims (pronounce Rhain, for reasons I can't explain), these chefs have created multi-cultural dishes that compliment the unique house style of V.C. champagnes.
