Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 15

The widow's wine, at full power. La Grande Dame is Veuve Clicquot's prestige cuvée, named for Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin herself — the widow who took over the house at 27 in 1805, invented riddling, and declared that "black grapes make the finest white wines." The 2015 takes her at her word: 90% Pinot Noir, drawn mainly from the cool, north-facing Montagne de Reims grand crus of Verzy and Verzenay with richer "seasoning" from Bouzy, Ambonnay, and Aÿ, polished with 10% Chardonnay from Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. From a warm, generous vintage, it emerged taut and refined — a flinty, oyster-shell nose opening into jasmine, honeysuckle, citrus, honey, nutmeg, and ginger over a gentle mousse, with subtle power and a long, precise finish. Dosed at a restrained 6 g/L and rated 94–95 points, with a dramatic decade-plus ahead of it. The bottle for the proposal, the milestone, the caviar.

Wine Details:

Grapes: 90% Pinot Noir (Verzy, Verzenay, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Aÿ), 10% Chardonnay (Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger)

ABV: 12.5%

Region: Champagne AOC, France — Reims; grand cru sourcing

Farming / Practices: Prestige cuvée made only in top vintages; extended lees aging (disgorged October 2021); Brut, 6 g/L dosage

Producer: Veuve Clicquot — est. 1772; tribute to Madame Clicquot

Bottle Size: 750ml