2006 Champagne, Veuve Clicquot, La Grande Dame
About Producer
La Grande Dame was created in 1972 to celebrate the bicentenary of the House as a tribute to Madame Clicquot, aka La Grande Dame de la Champagne for her uncompromising and innovative winemaking approach. In an era when women were excluded from the business world, Madame Clicquot, widow at 27 years old, took the reins of the family house in 1805 after her husband’s untimely death. Among many firsts, she produced in 1810 the first recorded vintage champagne and in 1816, she invented the first riddling table (table de remuage) which guarantees a crystal-clear wine. Veuve Clicquot was acquired by Louis Vuitton in 1986, one year before the creation of LVMH.
Varietals
Blend of 53% pinot noir and 47% chardonnay from 8 grand cru vineyards: Aÿ, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Verzy and Verzenay for pinot noir; Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger for chardonnay. Disgorged in March 2015.
About Appellation
One of the first mentions of vines in the region was made by Saint Remigius, the Bishop of Reims who baptised the King of the Franks Clovis I in 496, who listed in his testament a vineyard in the suburb of Reims. Much has been written about the key roles of Dom Pierre Pérignon (1638-1715), a Benedictine monk at Hautvilliers Abbey, and Frère Jean Oudart (1654-1742), from Saint-Pierre-aux-Monts Abbey in Pierry, in the development of Champagne as we know today. In 1690, 'Champagne Wines' were first mentioned to designate sparkling wines of the region, and it was also the first time in France that a wine was identified as produce from a specific region. Today, the vineyards covers 34,300ha in four sub-regions, Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs and Côte des Bar. Within the three first sub-regions, there are 17 Grand Cru communes. While the main grape varieties are pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier, four other varietals are also used in some blends, arbane, petit meslier, pinot blanc and pinot gris (known locally as fromenteau).
Tasting Notes
Intense nose of orchard fruits, citrus, candied peel, pineapple tart, almond and white flowers, round and rich mouthfeel with creamy texture, incredible purity and excellent depth, mouth-filling flavours of ripe apple, white peach, apricot, pear, honey, roasted nuts, brioche and marzipan intertwined with spicy mineral undertones, vibrant acidity and refined bubbles leading onto a long, zesty finish. This is a superb champagne with magnificent poise, amazing focus and remarkable tension, walking a tightrope between vinous opulence and lively freshness. It’s lusciously framed, yet there is innate finesse throuhout the palate, coupled with an enchanting lift of crisp energy, that makes it utterly delightful to taste. (09/2021)