Champagne Veuve Clicquot

Producer Note

Founded in 1772, Veuve Clicquot is among the most prestigious Champagne Houses. Its extensive holdings, many originally purchased by Madame Clicquot, stretch throughout the top-rated areas of the Champagne region and are exceptional in size and quality. As in Madame Clicquot's day, bottles age in the House's vast, vaulted cellars in Reims, portions of which were constructed some 2,000 years ago by the Romans. The remarkable Madame Clicquot (1777-1866) is considered one of the first business-women of the modern era. Widowed in 1805 at the age of 27, Madame Veuve Clicquot (born Ponsardin) defied every convention of the day to take the helm of her late husband's small Champagne House. She personally supervised cellar activities and introduced innovative production techniques still used today. Champagne Veuve Clicquot is known internationally for its classically styled and full-bodied Champagne. The motto of the house is: 'Only one quality, the finest.'

Vineyard

Meticulous care and attention is devoted to tending Veuve Clicquot vines with an active commitment to protect the environment and the health and safety of its winegrowers, practicing sustainable viticulture. A single hectare of vines requires between 380 and 420 hours of work per year, including working the soil, pruning, binding, and disease control. Veuve Clicquot is able to cover 40% of its grape supply requirements, and has six press houses.

Winemaking

Veuve Clicquot places considerable importance on the concept of 'terroir'. Even before the blending process starts, vinification is carried out separately for each grape variety, each vineyard plot, and each 'cru', thus maximizing the range of possibilities available to the winemakers.

Tasting Note

Made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier with approximately one third Chardonnay, this fine Champagne displays raisins, vanilla and brioche together with toasty aromas from ageing in bottle. A beautiful balance between power and finesse.

Serving Suggestion

Pinot Noir driven, this Champagne of character with its elegant bitter final note would pair perfectly with poultry and mushroom dishes, aperitive toast biscuits with salmon cream, oven roasted scallops, or fresh fish dishes with an acidic note of tomato slices or lemon.

Grape

Pinot Noir 55%, Chardonnay 30%, Pinot Meunier 15%