VEUVE CLICQUOT PONSARDIN Brut 'La Grande Dame' 2006 Bottle

Description

La Grande Dame 2006 is a magnificent tribute to the legacy of Madame Clicquot and represents the absolute pinnacle of the house. This vintage is a sophisticated blend featuring nearly 90% Pinot Noir, sourced exclusively from the eight historic Grand Cru villages originally acquired by the Grande Dame herself.

In the glass, it shows a beautiful gold colour with a remarkably fine mousse. The nose is complex and evolving, offering layers of dried apricots and white peach alongside more mature notes of honey, toasted brioche, and roasted nuts. On the palate, it is powerful and concentrated yet maintains a stunning silken texture. A vibrant streak of acidity provides a long mineral finish that suggests this 2006 still has a glorious life ahead. It is a majestic and highly accomplished Champagne.

DECANTER 95 points
Drinking Window: 2016 - 2030
How does Veuve Clicquot’s cellarmaster Dominique Demarville do it? This high wire Prestige Cuvée act walks the tightrope with such confidence and ease. Unusually for the house, the blend is just 53% Pinot Noir and 47% Chardonnay but like every great champagne its ‘ying and yang’ are in perfect symmetry. So we have the volume, structure and depth balanced by the cut and thrust of the acidity. On the palate are layers of cream, honey, nuts, brioche, pear, marzipan and ginger. The texture is shimmeringly silky and full. The finish alone deserves an ovation and demands an encore. Bravo.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 94 points
Reviewed by: Stephan Reinhardt
Drink Date: 2016 - 2030
The prestigious 2006 La Grande Dame is made from 47% Chardonnay and 53% Pinot Noir, and assembles the fruit of eight grand cru villages. Very intense and complex on the nose, this is a full-bodied, round, rich and mouth-filling, but also refined prestige cuvée; it reveals a fascinating purity, precision and freshness. The finish is long and complex, and shows a spicy minerality. There are coffee beans, bread and toast aromas in the aftertaste. This comes highly recommended.

JAMES SUCKLING 94 points
The Grande Dame is looking bright, gently complex and a little spicy in 2006 where the grapefruit citrus is a strong influence on the nose, showing sweet florals, a little honeyed nougat and almond paste. The palate's bright and crisp and really has an air of fleshy depth and refinement. There's also a great warm, toasty finish that displays grilled hazelnuts. Great now through to to 2020 and beyond.