One of the Maison Veuve Clicquot’s most emblematic cuvées, La Grande Dame Brut 2015 embodies a haute couture vision of Champagne AOP, where precision of gesture meets the grace of a great vintage. A tribute to Madame Clicquot’s visionary determination, this release reveals the eloquence of the Grands Crus through a blend dominated by Pinot Noir, supported by extended ageing on the lees. It is aimed at aesthetes seeking an exceptional Champagne, those who want a celebratory wine that is both sensual and crystalline, able to accompany a gastronomic table or mark a rare moment. Its golden colour announces delicate effervescence; the mineral nose unfolds with jasmine and acacia, pear and clementine. On the palate the substance expands with a silky softness, linear energy and a craftsmanlike finish. Dosaged at 6 g/L to preserve the purity of the fruit, at 12.5% vol, this cuvée has remarkable ageing potential of 15 to 20 years, allowing its nuances to integrate and lift with time.

Blend and vinification

La Grande Dame Brut 2015 is built on a foundation of 90% Pinot Noir, enhanced by 10% Chardonnay, all sourced from historic Grands Crus. The Pinot Noir draws its strength and verticality from plots in Verzenay, Verzy, Ambonnay, Bouzy and Aÿ—chalky and clay soils that express a noble structure. The Chardonnay, from Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, brings citrine structure, floral accents and an airy salinity. The balance of the 2015 vintage, sunny yet measured, allowed ideal ripeness and a harvest in line with the Maison’s standards. Extended lees ageing of about 6 to 7 years polished the contours, refined the mousse and complexified the aromas, all supported by a dosage of 6 g/L that respects the wine’s integrity and lets the terroir sing. The result is a high-line Champagne, chiselled, whose depth reveals itself with each breath of the glass.

Tasting notes

• Appearance : Bright golden with straw highlights, crossed by fine, regular effervescence. The brilliance of the disc, almost satiny, promises a delicate substance, perfectly integrated after long years of cellar ageing.
• Nose : Mineral and airy on the attack, it unfolds a bouquet of jasmine and acacia, joined by fresh pear and clementine. In the background there are notes of citrus peel, wet chalk and fine pastry hints, which gain amplitude with oxygenation for a very clear complexity.
• Palate : Caressing attack, silky texture and precise progression. The mineral backbone imparts a fine tension, the fruit is juicy without excess, the finish lengthens with a straight grace, punctuated by noble salinity and a citrus zest that invites the next sip.

Serving temperature and advice

Serve La Grande Dame Brut 2015 between 10 and 12°C to preserve aromatic brightness and the finesse of the mousse. A tulip glass with narrower walls will favour the ascent of the bouquet, while opening the bottle a few minutes before service will allow the floral and citrus notes to fully express. Store bottles on their side, away from light and temperature fluctuations, to preserve the wine’s freshness and balance. Thanks to its cellaring potential of 15 to 20 years, this cuvée will gain in complexity, its floral nuances merging with a spiced patina and an increasingly velvety texture. Whether enjoyed in the liveliness of its youth or at the peak of maturity, this Champagne keeps a clear, upright, intensely legible signature.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs : fine oysters, clams or brown shrimps, whose iodine and freshness respond to the mineral thread and delicate mousse.
• Starters : scallop carpaccio, lobster with a hint of citrus, sea bass crudo, highlighting the floral notes, precision and purity of the texture.
• Main courses : roasted turbot, sole meunière, or truffled poultry whose savoury sap embraces the body of the Pinot Noir and the freshness of the Chardonnay.
• Cheeses : a refined selection of cooked-pressed cheeses or lightly truffled brie, served at temperature, for a meeting of creaminess and straightness.
• Garden gastronomy : young crunchy vegetables, fine herbs, roasted root vegetables, where vegetal textures and zesty notes answer each other with grace.

Occasions

La Grande Dame Brut 2015 is the ideal companion:

• To celebrate a unique event, when every detail must live up to the moment.
• At a gastronomic dinner, as a guiding thread of precise pairings that elevate seasonal cuisine.
• As an exceptional gift, intended for a knowledgeable enthusiast or to enrich a collector’s cellar.

Specifications

• Name : Veuve Clicquot, La Grande Dame Brut 2015
• Appellation : Champagne AOP
• Type : Vintage Champagne Brut
• Vintage : 2015
• Grape varieties : Pinot Noir 90%, Chardonnay 10%
• Alcohol : 12.5% vol
• Ageing : about 6 to 7 years on the lees
• Dosage : 6 g/L, Brut
• Cellaring : 15 to 20 years
• Serving temperature : 10–12°C