VEUVE CLICQUOT LA GRANDE DAME 2015

Style Summary

La Grande Dame is the prestige cuvée of Veuve Clicquot, created as a tribute to Madame Clicquot—Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin—one of the most influential figures in Champagne history.

The 2015 is an exceptionally Pinot Noir-driven expression, combining power and structure with remarkable precision, freshness and elegance. It is a sophisticated Champagne with both immediate appeal and significant potential for further bottle ageing.

Region / Grape / Style

Producer: Veuve Clicquot
Region: Champagne, France
Cuvée: La Grande Dame
Vintage: 2015
Blend: 90% Pinot Noir • 10% Chardonnay
Style: Vintage Prestige Cuvée Champagne
Dosage: Brut

The fruit comes from a selection of Veuve Clicquot's historic Grand Cru vineyards, with Pinot Noir very much at the heart of the wine.

Tasting Profile

Nose: Initially refined and restrained, gradually revealing white flowers, jasmine and citrus blossom alongside pear, green apple and white peach. With air, more complex notes of brioche, toasted almond, hazelnut and delicate spice emerge.

Palate: Precise, energetic and beautifully textured. Citrus and orchard fruits are joined by subtle stone fruit, chalk and toasted pastry. Despite the exceptionally high proportion of Pinot Noir, the wine is graceful rather than heavy.

Structure: Fine and persistent bubbles accompany vibrant acidity and impressive mineral tension. Pinot Noir contributes depth and structure while Chardonnay brings additional lift and finesse.

Finish: Long, elegant and chalky, with lingering citrus, white fruit, toasted nuts and a distinctive saline-mineral freshness.

The Story of La Grande Dame

La Grande Dame was created in honour of Madame Clicquot, who took control of the Champagne house in 1805 at only 27 years old following the death of her husband.

Known as “La Grande Dame de la Champagne,” she became one of the great innovators and entrepreneurs of the Champagne industry. Among her achievements was the development of the riddling table, a technique that transformed Champagne production by allowing sediment to be efficiently removed from the bottle.

La Grande Dame was first released in 1972, marking the 200th anniversary of the founding of Veuve Clicquot.

Vintage Notes — 2015

The 2015 Champagne vintage was warm, dry and sunny, producing beautifully ripe and concentrated fruit.

For La Grande Dame, the richness of the vintage is balanced by the natural structure and freshness of Pinot Noir. The resulting Champagne is generous but controlled, combining ripe fruit with impressive chalky tension and precision.

The 2015 has received excellent international critical recognition, generally scoring in the mid-to-high 90s.

Drinking Window

Drink now–2040+

La Grande Dame 2015 is already highly enjoyable, particularly with food, but has the structure and acidity required for substantial further development.

With bottle age, expect the youthful citrus, orchard fruit and floral character to evolve toward brioche, toasted hazelnut, honey, dried citrus, pastry and more pronounced savoury complexity.

Serve at approximately 10–12°C in a generous tulip-shaped Champagne or white-wine glass rather than a narrow flute.

Food Pairing

A superb gastronomic Champagne. Pair with caviar, oysters, lobster, scallops, king crab, turbot, Dover sole, roast chicken, veal, mushroom dishes and aged Parmesan.

Its Pinot Noir structure makes it particularly successful throughout a meal rather than simply as an aperitif.

The Tasting Room Recommendation

A prestige Champagne for those who value elegance and precision over sheer richness.

With 90% Pinot Noir, La Grande Dame 2015 demonstrates how remarkably refined Pinot Noir can become in the hands of Veuve Clicquot. It has considerably more depth and complexity than Yellow Label while retaining the freshness and energy associated with the house.

For guests considering Dom Pérignon, Cristal, Krug or other prestige Champagnes, La Grande Dame deserves serious consideration—particularly for those who appreciate a structured, gastronomic style.

It is also an excellent Champagne to drink now or cellar, as the 2015 has sufficient fruit and structure to develop beautifully over the coming decade and beyond.

The Tasting Room Rating: 96/100 — Drink • Cellar • Special Occasion