La Grande Dame 2012 – A New Interpretation of Veuve Clicquot’s Prestige Cuvée
Since its debut in 1972, La Grande Dame has stood as the prestige cuvée of Veuve Clicquot. Crafted predominantly from the House’s finest Pinot Noir vineyards—particularly those in Bouzy—this cuvée is known for its full-bodied character and rich, nutty and chocolatey aromas.
The 2012 vintage represents not only a visual reinvention, with artist Yayoi Kusama’s vibrant design, but also a subtle stylistic evolution. While maintaining its hallmark structure,La Grande Dame 2012 leans towards a fruitier, softer profile, with reduced oxidative and nutty tones. This modernisation continues in the 2015 and 2018 vintages as well.The stylistic shift began under former Chef de Cave Dominique Demarville, who ultimately opposed the new direction and left the House. His successor Didier Mariotti continues the process.
Tasting Notes
The nose opens with floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle, supported by aromas of apricot, pear and mirabelle plum. As it evolves in the glass, nuances of brioche, nougat, vanilla pastry and roasted nuts emerge, alongside a subtle mineral edge.
Palate: The initial impression is precise, with a smooth, silky texture and well-structured acidity. Flavours of citrus, apricot and a hint of honey unfold, accompanied by a saline minerality. The finish is long and elegant. La Grande Dame is a full-bodied Champagne with a refined mouthfeel, yet retains tension and freshness thanks to the mineral expression of its exceptional vineyard sites.
The Story of La Grande Dame
In 1972, to mark the 200th anniversary of the House, Veuve Clicquot launched a new prestige cuvée named in honour of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, known as the “Grande Dame of Champagne”. The first vintage used was 1962, produced in limited quantities and released swiftly in 1973.
At a time when women had little presence in the business world, Madame Clicquot demonstrated extraordinary courage and vision. Several important innovations in Champagne production are credited to her: The first vintage Champagne (1810); The riddling table (1816):To improve clarity and quality, she invented a technique in which bottles are gradually turned to collect sediment in the neck—a method still in use today.The first blended rosé Champagne (1818). She pioneered the method of creating rosé Champagne by blending still red and white wines—now a standard practice.
The 2012 Vintage
The 2012 growing season was marked by a warm, dry spring with some episodes of frost. This was followed by a sunny, warm summer, with timely rainfall in August allowing for optimal grape ripening. Harvest conditions were favourable, resulting in healthy fruit with excellent concentration and balanced acidity.
The Terroirs
Veuve Clicquot boasts extensive vineyard holdings. La Grande Dame is crafted exclusively from the House’s finest Grand Cru parcels, selected from the oldest vines.
90% of the blend is Pinot Noir from Bouzy, Aÿ, Verzenay, Verzy, and Ambonnay. The remaining 10% is Chardonnay from Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.
