La Grande Dame Rose 2008

La Grande Dame Rosé 2008 is an exclusive blend of 6 of the House’s 8 historical Grands Crus. The cuvée is made of 92% Pinot Noir (Aÿ, Ambonnay, Bouzy, Verzy, Verzenay) and 8% Chardonnay (Le-Mesnil-sur-Oger). The blend is obtained by adding 14% Pinot Noir red wine from Clos Colin, located in Bouzy, one of the most historical plots of the Veuve Clicquot vineyard and also the most iconic. As a constant hallmark of the House’s style, the predominance of Pinot Noir provides the structure that is so typically Veuve Clicquot. However, for this specific vintage of La Grande Dame 2008, the proportion of Pinot Noir was taken to another level (92%) by the Cellar Master – one of the highest ever at Veuve Clicquot – as a true testimony of Madame Clicquot’s heritage and a tribute to her fondness for structure and strength. Dominique Demarville stated: “My vision is to bring La Grande Dame towards the finesse and elegance that the Pinot Noir offers us in these Grands Crus. In a way, this is the Veuve Clicquot twist: to combine depth and silkiness with lightness and elegance in this exceptional cuvée”. According to the tradition and standards of reference of the House, the cuvée has been aged for 10 years in Veuve Clicquot’s century-old cellars.

The spring of 2008 was cool and rainy. Thanks to an also cool and dry summer, the grapes ripened in excellent conditions. Several factors were taken into consideration to make 2008 a La Grande Dame cuvée in respecting tradition and the House’s quest for excellence: the exceptional quality of the grapes and most importantly a remarkable acidity which recalled other extraordinary Vintages at Veuve Clicquot such as 1995, 1985 and 1979.

On the eye, La Grande Dame Rosé 2008 offers a beautiful pink gold with light copper hues. Gentle bubbles explode with an extreme delicacy. On the nose, it is full-bodied and smooth, then becomes re?ned with fresh aromas. The generosity of the Pinot Noir resonates beautifully after a slow and long aging in our cellars. The wine shows powerful notes of red fruits (raspberry and strawberry), combined with citrus notes (blood orange, grapefruit), and finally holds a perfect balance between subtle and spicy red berries, rooibos tea and fine leather notes. On the palate, the attack is delicate and smooth. In full harmony with the nose, fruit outshines the palate and presents intensity in red and black fruits (cherry, strawberry, blackberry and blackcurrant). The strength and youth are carved by long aging notes, dried flowers and smoky notes, presenting an incredible complexity which is worthy of the best Pinot Noir of Champagne. This unites into a long and luscious finish, highlighted by the perfect dosage (6 g/l) that resonates with this cuvée tension. La Grande Dame Rosé 2008 is an enchanting champagne, generously shaped and elegant. Filled with freshness and lusciousness, this cuvée has an amazing aging potential.