Product Description:
A tribute to Madame Clicquot’s daring spirit. La Grande Dame Rosé 2015 is the latest prestige cuvée from Veuve Clicquot, crafted predominantly from Pinot Noir with a touch of Chardonnay and a portion of red wine from the estate’s historic Clos Colin vineyard. The 2015 vintage, defined by warmth and ripeness, is here shaped into a wine of depth and finesse, framed by the house’s signature tension.
Presented in a striking gift box designed by Italian artist Paola Paronetto, La Grande Dame Rosé reflects both heritage and innovation. First pioneered by Madame Clicquot in 1818, the blend of still red and white Champagne wines was considered audacious, yet became the benchmark for rosé. Two centuries later, the cuvée continues to embody her precision, creativity and enduring love of Pinot Noir.
The Maker
Barbe Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin was born in 1777, the daughter of a textile manufacturer in Reims, Champagne. Widowed at the age of only 27, she took control of her own destiny and became one of the first modern entrepreneurs. In an era when women were excluded from the business world, she dared to assume the head of the company founded by her father-in-law in 1772, a role she undertook with passion and determination. Her creativity and lust for innovation led to many firsts in Champagne: the first known vintage champagne; the invention of the riddling table; the first known blended rosé champagne. Three inventions that revolutionised champagne making and were widely adopted by producers, becoming the basis of modern champagne production. Madame Clicquot made her name into a brand of excellence and had it shine the world over. Her formidable contributions earned her the nickname of "la grande dame of Champagne".
The entire history of the Veuve Clicquot House is marked by mythical wines, all of which respect the demand for quality that was the force that drove Madame Clicquot. True to this heritage, the House is proud of its motto: "Only one quality, the finest." A short lineage of just 11 Cellar Masters has led this quest for quality, thereby ensuring the continuity of the Veuve Clicquot style: strength and complexity. Veuve Clicquot prides itself on excellence and quality. Only the juice from the cuvée (the first and most noble pressing) is used.
The Vineyard
Grapes from 50 to 60 different crus, or growing areas, are used to produce the Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label: 50-55% Pinot Noir ensures the structure so typical of the House wines. 15% to 20% Pinot Meunier rounds out the blend. 28% to 33% Chardonnay provides the elegance and sophistication essential to a perfectly balanced wine. A high proportion of priceless reserve wines (between 25% and 40%) ensures the continuity of the House style.
95% of the Veuve Clicquot vines are classified as Grands or Premiers Crus while the latter only represents a quarter of the total surface of vines in the entirety of the Champagne region. Each plot’s grape variety is determined by assessing its soil, climate and exposure. The Veuve Clicquot vineyard is comprised of 47% Chardonnay grapes, 36% Pinot Noir and 17% Meunier. The Clicquot vines are mostly situated on gentle sloping hills allowing the vines to benefit from shallow soil and a maximum exposure to sunlight. Since its foundation, the Maison of Veuve Clicquot has also established a strong partnership with its fellow winegrowers in Champagne. These providers of grapes and white wines help insure the consistent quality of the Veuve Clicquot wines. Integrated pest management (also known as lutte raisonnée) is a key part of sustainable agriculture. It includes setting thresholds at which action needs to be taken (e.g. if pest populations reach a certain level and affect too much the quality of our grapes), identifying and monitoring pests, always setting up preferably preventative measures, and evaluating and implementing control options if needed only. To preserve this high-quality terroir, Maison Veuve Clicquot is committed to using no herbicides in 2018, with the proportion of phytosanitary products decreasing every year. Transitioning to a sustainable viticulture and soil resilience philosophy.
Tasting Notes
NOSE
– Refined and complex
Wild strawberry, pomegranate and redcurrant with hints of rose petal and spice.
PALATE
– Textural and vibrant
Silky red fruit, blood orange and fine minerality framed by bright acidity.
FINISH
– Long and savoury
Persistent and chalky with a savoury edge and subtle citrus lift.
Finer Details:
Style - Champagne
Varietal - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Country - France
Region - Champagne
Vintage - 2015
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%
Closure - Cork
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