The mere word Veuve Clicquot Champagne and its distinct yellow label conjures an image of luxury and a rich tradition of winemaking.
The highly regarded Champagne house gained fame in the 1800s under Madame Clicquot, the famous lady who set the standard for many firsts in Champagne production. It is among the largest Champagne houses of today and is equally adored in popular music as wine critics!
This article examines the Veuve Clicquot Champagne house in depth – including its rich history, stunning vineyards, impeccable winemaking skills, and the best Veuve Clicquot Wines To Invest in 2023 (including the Veuve Clicquot Brut.)
The Magnificent Veuve Clicquot Vineyards
Veuve Clicquot owns 390 hectares of superb vineyards divided into 12 Grand Crus and 20 Premier Crus. They are planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir grape varieties.
The chalky soils perfectly balance moisture and heat – the reason for Clicquot’s rich Yellow Label Brut Champagne and other bottles.
The moderate climate and cool temperatures in these stunning vineyards add an extraordinary freshness to the grapes and the wine. Yellow Label wine.
The ideal position in those Grand Crus and Premier Crus allows them to receive the most sunshine. This is why the sad Pinot Noir fruit has reached its finest quality in this vineyard.
Veuve Clicquot Winemaking Techniques
The winemaker processes the grapes from each plot separately, ensuring each varietal reaches its best expression.
Here are a few other steps of the process of making wine:
Acidity in the wine is controlled by malolactic fermentation.
The cellar master will taste different varieties to determine the best blend before making the wine white by yeast.
The bottle is laid horizontally. Depending on the style of Veuve Clicquot, the wine is then stored on lees for up to 7 to 7 years. Non-vintages are matured for 30 months.
Following this, the bottle is taken to the table for riddling, which is rotated regularly so the sediment is deposited at the neck of the bottle.
The winemaker then disgorges the wine of Veuve Clicquot (freezing it to remove the sediments) and performs the liqueur d’expedition. In liqueur d’expedition, the wine’s dryness is tempered by sweetness.
Veuve Clicquot Champagne Styles
Veuve Clicquot produces six different Champagnes.
Brut Yellow Label
The Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label is a stellar example of the high quality of Veuve Clicquot winemaking.
The Yellow Label bottle is a blend of reserve wines ranging from 30-45%. Wines and grapes from the 50-60 crus. Pinot Noir, with moderate Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grape varieties, dominates this Yellow Label blend.
A minimum of three months is characterized by soft, smoothness in the mouth.
The wines from the winery’s vintage selection consist of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label wines, highly regarded for their aromatic power and perfect balance of aromas and flavor.
Its Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut Champagne blends sweet orchard fruit like Brioche (and toasty Brioche) and ripe, sweet pear. This dominant Pinot Noir wine is exceptionally balanced with subtle notes of grapefruit zest and grated ginger.
Wine critics and magazines like Wine Spectator frequently appreciate its Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label sparkling wine.
La Grande Dame
Created in 1972, the La Grande Dame house style celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Champagne house and paid homage to the legendary Madame Clicquot.
With its Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, this sparkling wine is highly regarded for its perfect blend of sophistication and elegance. It is an incredible tribute to the greatness of Madame Clicquot.
Most commonly, it is a Pinot Noir wine, composed of 90 percent Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay in the blend.
Champagne Rose
Madame Clicquot created the first Rose Champagne from a blend of the traditional Brut Yellow Label and still red wine. The color and flavor of this Rose Champagne result from the added red wine.
The Rich Collection
Veuve Clicquot Rich is a sparkling white wine from 45% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier, and 15% Chardonnay.
The Veuve Clicquot Champagne style was explicitly designed for Cocktails with Champagne. Its mineral-focused scent will perfectly balance the aroma of fruit in a cocktail.
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Yellowboam Ostrich Skin, Champagne, France
The nose of this NV brut wine has discreet aromas of smoky pear, bitter lemon pith, Brioche, rich, ripe pears, and white fruits. The palate displays a unique elegance and finesse with a toasty brioche flavor and gently spicy notes.
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Yellowboam Alligator Skin, Champagne, France
This golden yellow wine may not be a Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, but this is one bottle that every wine lover should have in their collection.
It is an excellent wine for the price. Veuve Clicquot NV Brut is created from an amalgamation of 50-60 crus wines. Wine Spectator appreciated its appealing aroma of smoky pears, dried figs, Brioche, and smoky orchard fruit with an underlying hint of savory nectarine flavor.
1982 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Cave Privee Collection Brut, Champagne, France
The 1982 vintage is a true delicacy that showcases the perfect balance of aromas and the elegant finesse of the Veuve Clicquot style.
This sparkling wine is characterized by a mineral-infused aroma of bitter lemon pith and sweet orchard fruits with a musky Brioche scent. The palate shows appealing aromas of aging.
2012 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin La Grande Dame Brut by Yayoi Kusama, Champagne, France
The 2012 La Grande Dame Brut by Yayoi Kusama Champagne is a perfectly balanced wine with a unique aroma.
It has a mineral-driven scent with subtle aromas of mandarin, orange, and Brioche. The palate is characterized by its unique freshness and delicate nectarine flavors.
1996 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin La Grande Dame Brut by Emilio Pucci, Champagne, France
With its aromatic intensity and elegance, this 1996 La Grande vintage represents the Madame Clicquot wines.
The nose offers a beautiful blend of smoky pear, smoky orchard fruits,, and toasty Brioche smells with some white fruits, grapefruit zest, and grated ginger. The palate is bright and acidic with a sophisticated finesse and a mildly spicy tinge.