Veuve Clicquot is the second-largest Champagne house after Moët & Chandon and, like it, belongs to the LVMH group. Despite an impressive annual production of around 18 million bottles, the house produces some artisanal, labor-intensive cuvées that serve as the brand’s flagship – most notably the Vintage and especially the prestige cuvée La Grande Dame.
The Veuve Clicquot Style
Like Bollinger and Krug, the style of Veuve Clicquot is based on a clear dominance of Pinot Noir, although the Yellow Label now includes 30% Chardonnay. The result is a full-bodied, vinous and complex Champagne with nutty and slightly oxidative aromas. Already in 1962 the house switched to modern cellar technology and stainless steel tanks. Gradually the oxidative style was modernized, and in recent years even La Grande Dame has shifted toward a fruitier, fresher profile.
This places it in line with prestige cuvées such as Dom Pérignon and Comtes de Champagne, which offer great enjoyment even when young.
This change was driven by marketing considerations and met with significant resistance from Chef de Cave Dominique Demarville, who ultimately left the house because of it.
The 2008 La Grande Dame is the last truly classic Veuve Clicquot. When tasting older vintage Champagnes from Veuve Clicquot – which strongly resemble Krug and Bollinger – one tends to regret this departure from the traditional house style.
The classic Veuve Clicquot aromas that develop after years of aging are wonderful: cocoa, nougat, hazelnuts, honey, caramel, dried apricots, orange zest and smoky notes create a profound sense of complete satisfaction.
Top Cuvées
La Grande Dame
La Grande Dame is the iconic prestige cuvée of Veuve Clicquot – named after the founder, Madame Clicquot. The first vintage is 1962.
It consists of approximately 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay. The regular Vintage has a higher Chardonnay proportion of about one third. The wine displays a fascinating balance of power, depth and finesse, with aromas of red fruit, brioche, hazelnut and mineral freshness. The 2008 is still rather nutty and somewhat oxidative. Over time it develops notes of hazelnut, nougat, honey, caramel and dried apricots. The grapes come exclusively from Grand Cru sites such as Bouzy, Verzenay and Ambonnay. Bouzy also supplies the still wine for La Grande Dame Rosé.
Veuve Clicquot Vintage
The Vintage cuvée is an assemblage from around 50 different crus. The most important sites are Ambonnay, Bouzy, Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil, Oger, Verzy and Verzenay. Traditionally it is composed of two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay. In the late 1960s they began adding a small amount of Meunier to the blend. This practice has been consistent since the 1980s.
The vintages that were traditionally fermented and aged in oak barrels (up to the 1950s) are very similar to Bollinger and in some cases even slightly superior to La Grande Dame, which has been aged in tank since its debut in 1962. Legendary vintages such as 1921, 1928, 1945 and 1955 represent absolute peaks of classic Champagne.
The vintage Rosé Champagne also shows – in many years – a classic Pinot Noir style without exaggerated red fruit character.
History of the House Veuve Clicquot
Veuve Clicquot was founded in 1772 by the Reims textile merchant Philippe Clicquot. The house achieved worldwide fame under Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, the legendary widow (veuve) Clicquot, who took over management in 1805. She was a pioneer in Champagne production and in 1816 invented the riddling table (pupitre), which is still used today in traditional méthode champenoise. In addition, in 1810 she released the first officially documented vintage cuvée – a milestone in Champagne history.
