Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Champagne 2008 Brut

La Grande Dame, the prestige cuve of Veuve Clicquot was created in tribute to Madame Clicquot. The finest expression of the House style it is a wine of incomparable finesse.

Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2008 is a great wine for gastronomy. This cuve will pair extremely well with oysters, fish tartare, seafood or even chicken with sesame.

On the eye, La Grande Dame 2008 light gold color has a surprising glint. The initial nose reveals a strong attack, both aerial and delicate. Upon being released it presents notes of dried fruits (almonds, figs, apricots), ripe white fruits (pears), and finally, subtle toasted notes of hazelnut and praline. Thus, those luscious pastry notes are well balanced with the blends freshness and clarity.

On the palate, the attack is strong and sharp. La Grande Dame 2008 bestows a silky texture upon young fruits, carried by citrus and red fruits (cherry) notes. The Pinot Noir, a signature of the Veuve Clicquots style, shines extraordinarily by its freshness, minerality, and power. La Grande Dame 2008 is a perfect combination of complexity, structure, and strength.

La Grande Dame 2008 is an exclusive blend of 6 of the Houses 8 historical Grands Crus.

Blend: 92% Pinot Noir (Ay, Ambonnay, Bouzy, Verzy, Verzenay) and 8% Chardonnay (Le-Mesnil-sur-Oger)

Critical Acclaim

96 Jeb Dunnuck

The 2008 Champagne La Grande Dame is forward, with a luxurious perfume of honeysuckle, tropical fruit of papaya, and buttered citrus. The mousse is rounded, with an opulent texture, and it does finish dry, with orange marmalade, ripe melon, and chestnut. Its driving and impressive acidity will make this worthy to cellar and enjoy over the coming 20 years.

95 Wine Spectator

An elegant Champagne, powered by a sculpted frame of acidity and minerality, this wears the refined, lacy mousse and well-meshed flavors of black currant, lemon curd, toast and marzipan-like finely tailored clothing. Fresh and lasting, with hints of spice and smoke on the finish.

95 James Suckling

Still very youthful, this proves that pinot noir can give super-elegant, cool and tightly focused Champagne. Toastiness and spice build on the very long and tightly wound finish. Almost a blanc de noir with just 10% chardonnay blended into the overwhelming majority of pinot noir. Drink or hold.

93 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Exhibiting aromas of pear, toasted bread, confit citrus and smoke, the 2008 Brut La Grande Dame is full-bodied, rich and textural, with a deep and layered core, ripe but racy acids and a saline finish. A blend dominated by fully 92% Pinot Noir, this is true to the cuve’s rich and muscular style, but the vintage lends it welcomes additional cut and precision. It’s showing a lot better than the bottles I tasted in the United States last year.