Veuve Clicquot : La Grande Dame 2008

The freshness and structure of a fine vintage champagne by Veuve Clicquot

The estate

Today, Veuve Clicquot has become a brand with a worldwide success. The Veuve Clicquot myth was created thanks to a woman: Madame Clicquot. It was in 1798 that François Clicquot married the daughter of Baron Nicolas Ponsardin. Son of the founder of the Clicquot Champagne House, he passed on all of his passion to his wife, initiating her into the secrets of champagne-making. When her husband passed away prematurely, at the age of 27, she took over the reins of the Veuve Clicquot Champagne House with determination. Guided by an innate sense of innovation and a perpetual quest for perfection, she invented the riddling table and marketed the first blended rosé champagne. Veuve Clicquot has turned this uncompromising requirement into her motto: "Only one quality, the finest".

The vineyard

Comprising 390 hectares of land, Veuve Clicquot has one of the largest vineyards in Champagne. This vineyard boasts an exceptional quality, as it is spread over 12 out of the 17 Grands Crus and 20 out of the 44 Premiers Crus of the Champagne region.

The wine

Released in 1972 to mark the bicentenary of the Champagne house, "La Grande Dame" pays tribute to Madame Clicquot. A pioneer and visionary, Madame Clicquot was known as "La Grande Dame de la Champagne" at the time. This exceptional and rare cuvée is characterised by its freshness, its silky mouthfeel, its elegance and its minerality. The 2008 vintage of La Grande Dame is comprises a predominantly Pinot Noir blend which gives the wine its vinous structure and power.

The vintage

An exceptional year, 2008 is among the finest vintages of the Veuve Clicquot House. Similar to the extraordinary 1995, 1985 and 1979 vintages in its remarkable acidity, 2008 stood out for the exceptional quality of the grapes.

The blend

Veuve Clicquot's Grande Dame 2008 comprises a blend of six of the house's historic Grands Crus. The blend is dominated by Pinot Noir (92%) from the crus of Aÿ, Ambonnay, Bouzy, Verzy and Verzenay and Chardonnay (8%) from Mesnil-sur-Oger.

Vinification and ageing

A prestigious champagne, 2008 La Grande Dame by Veuve Clicquot is aged for 10 years in the house's century-old cellars.

Veuve Clicquot's La Grande Dame 2008: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Colour

La Grande Dame 2008 has a beautiful shimmering golden colour.

Nose

Aerial and delicate, the wine opens up gradually, revealing notes of flavoursome dried fruit such as apricot, almond and fig. Followed by notes of white fruit such as pear combined with subtle toasted notes. The freshness of the bouquet offers a pleasant balance due to its gourmet, hazelnut and praline notes.

Palate

On the palate, La Grande Dame 2008 is bold from the outset. The silky texture caresses the palate, revealing delicious notes of young fruit and blending red fruit and citrus notes. The characteristics of Pinot Noir boast their power and freshness. With a dosage of 6 g/l, La Grande Dame 2008 by Veuve Clicquot displays a perfect balance while promising a great ageing potential.

Food and wine pairing

A gourmet champagne, La Grande Dame 2008 is the ideal pairing with shellfish, seafood, fish or sesame chicken.

Service

To fully appreciate the potential of this rare champagne, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 10 and 12°C.

Cellaring

Ageworthy, Veuve Clicquot's La Grande Dame 2008 can evolve in the cellar until 2030 and beyond.