Veuve Clicquot unveils La Grande Dame 2008, a new vintage in the cuvée created in homage to Madame Clicquot
Wines & Spirits
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© Veuve Clicquot
In 1972, to mark the bicentennial of the Maison, Veuve Clicquot launched La Grande Dame, a rare and remarkable champagne created in homage to Madame Clicquot, known in her time as “la Grande Dame de la Champagne”. With La Grande Dame 2008, Cellar Master Dominique Demarville, demonstrates his winemaking prowess in his first vintage for this special cuvée, balancing the power of Pinot Noir and the elegance of Chardonnay.
The Veuve Clicquot style has always been defined by a predominance of Pinot Noir, the signature of the Maison, to which Cellar Master Dominique Demarville brings his personal vision in order to “elevate La Grande Dame towards the finesse and elegance that the Pinot Noir offers us in these Grands Crus.” He expresses the Veuve Clicquot style in this exceptional cuvée by combining “depth and silkiness with lightness and elegance.”
The blend chosen by Dominique Demarville for La Grande Dame 2008 is 92% Pinot Noir – the highest percentage of the grape ever used since the founding of the Maison – and 8% Chardonnay. The Pinot Noir grapes are from Veuve Clicquot’s historic Grands Crus terroirs of Aÿ, Ambonnay, Bouzy, Verzy and Verzenay, while the Chardonnay is from the Maison’s Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru vineyard.
In 2008 the grapes ripened in exceptional conditions across the vineyards, resulting in rare quality and remarkable acidity. A few months after the harvest during tastings of the still wines, Dominique Demarville decided to declare the year worthy of a Veuve Clicquot Grande Dame vintage.
In the glass, La Grande Dame 2008 has a light golden hue. After opening up, the nose reveals notes of dried fruit – almonds, figs, apricot – ripe white fruit (pear) and subtle toasted notes of hazelnut and praline. In the mouth the attack is powerful and sharp. The Pinot Noir stands out with its freshness, mineral notes and power, revealing the perfect balance of complexity, structure and audacity of La Grande Dame 2008.
The blend of La Grande Dame 2008 Rosé is identical to that of La Grande Dame, completed with the addition of 14% Pinot Noir red wines from Clos Colin in Bouzy, one of the oldest parcels among the Veuve Clicquot vineyards.
Drink responsibly.