Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2018 (750ml)
Product price
$199.99
Description
Veuve Clicquot's La Grande Dame from the warm, sunny 2018 vintage is a Champagne blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, made by the traditional method with secondary fermentation in the bottle. This is the house's prestige cuvée, released only in years deemed exceptional enough to merit it.
The wine opens with luminous citrus character, lemon oil and orange rind giving way to yuzu and candied citrus notes. What distinguishes this bottle is its mineral core, tightly wound and complex, anchoring the fruit with smoke and oyster shell on the finish. Fine bubbles and mouthwatering acidity create a harmonious frame for subtler flavors of patisserie pear, almond biscotti, spun honey, and floral lift. The wine teases the palate at first but expands beautifully as it sits in the glass, showing the finesse and delicacy that define the best of Champagne in this vintage. It's ready to enjoy now, yet the mineral structure and tension suggest it will age gracefully for years ahead.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Color | White |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne |
| Varietal | Champagne Blend |
| Producer | Veuve Clicquot |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Sparkling |
Expert Reviews
The long sunny days and warmth of the 2018 vintage has provided glowing stone and citrus fruit to this glorious Grande Dame. While the initial attack plays on various riffs of lemon oil, verbena, orange rind and grapefruit, it's the deeply mineral and tightly wound core that surprises most with this wine, and this is what will ensure its long-term ageing potential. Delectable candied orange rind builds to a crescendo of yuzu and coconut cream. A luminous and energetic iteration of La Grande Dame.
This finely detailed Champagne teases the palate with pinprick-sized bubbles and lightly mouthwatering acidity, a harmonious frame for flavors of patisserie pear and cherry fruit, pickled ginger, almond biscotti and spun honey. This is subtle at first but expands beautifully on the palate, and the long, minerally finish echoes smoke and oyster shell notes. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged February 2024. Drink now through 2040. (Wine Spectator)
The 2018 La Grande Dame is a very pretty wine that shows the contemporary style that is prevalent here these days. Floral overtones lift a core of citrus fruit, while marzipan, anise, mint, dried pear and spice open with a bit of coaxing. The 2018 is a delicate Grand Dame, as most Champagnes are in a vintage in which yields were exceptionally high. I especially admire the finesse here. Disgorged: September 2024.