Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2018

Known in her lifetime as "the Grande Dame of Champagne", Madame Clicquot was a woman ahead of her time. When her husband died in 1805, she took over the reins at just 27 years of age, at a time when women had no place in the world of business. She was a demanding creator, tirelessly searching for only one quality, the finest. Her tenacity and instinct led her to free herself from her charted destiny.

A free and ambitious woman, she dared to say, "I wish my brand to rank first in New York like in Saint Petersburg". Today, her signature is recognized the world over as the seal of Veuve Clicquot.

The sun is up on the latest prestige cuvée. Veuve Clicquot unveils the 2018 vintage of La Grande Dame, a celebration of Madame Clicquot's vison and audacity. In her time she earned the title ‘la grande dame de la Champagne’ - a mark of enduring respect.

TASTING NOTES

To the eye, La Grande Dame 2018 presents a color with bright, golden glints.

The initial nose reveals a strong, aerial and delicate attack. Once opened, the wine has notes of dried fruits (almonds, figs, apricots), ripe white fruits (pears) and finishes on subtle toasted notes of hazelnut and praline. These pastry notes create a perfect balance with the freshness and clarity of the blend.

The attack in the mouth is strong and clean. La Grande Dame 2018 has a silky texture on young fruits, supported by citrus and notes of red fruits (cherry). 

The Pinot Noir is extraordinarily distinguished by its freshness, minerality and power. La Grande Dame 2008 is a perfect balance of complexity, structure and power.

These characteristics unite to create an elegant balance of freshness and structure, highlighted by a perfect dosage (6 g/l) that resonates with the potential of this vintage.

SUGGESTED PAIRINGS

• OYSTERS
• FISH TARTARE
• SCALLOPS
• CAVIAR
• CHICKEN WITH SESAME

SUSTAINABILITY

Each step of the wine production process is meticulously conducted to ensure that the vines are treated with the utmost care and that the production processes have as little impact as possible in terms of consumption, emissions and waste. As a major international player in the luxury sector and due to the exceptional nature of its legacy, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin’s responsibility is considerable. Fully aware of the importance of its role, the House has been implementing an active approach in all aspects of its business for over fifteen years, from the work in the vineyard to the distribution of its wines.

We are able to maintain our quality thanks to our longstanding supplier relationships. In fact, there are some families that have given grapes to Veuve Clicquot for more than six generations; we are very attached to the relationship of proximity and loyalty. This continual development of our supply could not be accomplished without the help of a service uniquely dedicated to our Partners. The "Supply and Vineyard Relations" service is composed of ten people on the ground that work towards this end.

In 1999 , Veuve Clicquot was the first Maison to set up a technical department dedicated to its grape suppliers. Naturally, this team now is working to implement a Champagne Sustainable Viticulture with our Partners. By leveraging our passion and expertise, our technicians crisscross Champagne to meet with other winemakers, always advancing towards an ever more respectful common viticulture for our land, air and water.