La Grande Dame 2015 is at the very peak of Veuve Clicquot’s winemaking excellence

May 29, 2023

"La Grande Dame is a cuvée with a message," notes Marie Charlemagne, winemaker at Veuve Clicquot. The pinnacle of the champagne house's oenological excellence, the cuvée is marked by its verticality—in which every expression is created under the same name but produced in different years. "With the expertise of the Cellar Master, the signature of La Grande Dame is preserved and guaranteed with each new vintage. This legendary verticality, a delicate balancing act, gives the wines their finesse and freshness—making La Grande Dame a very special champagne indeed."

Its latest expression, La Grande Dame 2015, demonstrates the refined precision of an exceptional solaire vintage. Charlemagne explains, "The year 2015 was defined by the heat and sunshine that accompanied the vines all summer. Rare and precious, this solarité is found in La Grande Dame 2015."

Remaining true to pioneer Madame Clicquot's belief in uncovering the specificity of grape varieties with utmost detail, La Grande Dame 2015 primarily comprises of grapes from the historical Grands Crus of her terroir—regarded as some of the most prestigious in the Champagne region. Composed of 90 percent Pinot Noir and enhanced by a trace of Chardonnay, the cuvée possesses an immense ageing potential of more than 15 years.

Charlemagne notes, "The balance in the champagne is precise. Preserving the freshness of the Pinot Noir in a hot year while revealing the exceptional solar aroma is a La Grande Dame know-how." The result is an exquisite bottle that boasts delicate floral notes of jasmine and acacia on the nose, before evolving towards the refreshing fruity flavours of pear and clementine on the tongue.

When it comes to pairing the champagne, Charlemagne recommends looking towards garden gastronomy. "Slightly sweet vegetables such as carrot mingle well with the expression of Pinot Noir, the grape that gives this wine its structure and strength. La Grande Dame 2015 also pairs well with both delicate and crispy, textured flavours."

Beyond its technical excellence, however, the legacy of La Grande Dame is one that stands for promise and positivity. "La Grande Dame conveys unwavering passion, hope and optimism through resilience—fundamental values that Madame Clicquot held dear."

In line with the champagne house's mission to inspire positivity as well as its history of fruitful artist partnerships, a collaboration with Italian ceramicist Paola Paronetto sees the creation of six pastel-hued gift boxes that champion optimism through the use of colour. Inspired by the beauty of nature, Paronetto is known for her innovative paper clay technique and her ‘Cartocci’ collection, which mimics the texture of corrugated cardboard. It is in this signature style that she recreates the elegant silhouette of La Grande Dame bottles—in shades of blue, green and purple inspired by the champagne's notes of jasmine, acacia, pear and clementine.

Crafted from a groundbreaking next-generation material, the packaging is completely recyclable and reduces overall carbon impact by 30 percent. Both eco-friendly and beautiful, it furthers the champagne house's ongoing EcoYellow commitments, which pledges to minimise the environmental impact of each step in the wine production process, be it in terms of consumption, emissions or waste. In its thoughtful creation of luxury that is both sustainable and meaningful, Veuve Clicquot thus cements its dedication to pushing boundaries and spreading positive change with La Grande Dame 2015.

Purchase La Grande Dame 2015 in Singapore at Le Rouge stores. La Grande Dame 2015 is priced at $348 for 1, $338 by 3 and $328 by 6.