La Grande Dame - Yayoi Kusama 2012 Gift Box - Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin
Champagne, Grande Dame - Veuve Clicquot vs Yayoi Kusama Gift Box, 2012, Domaine Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin
Tasting notes for the Grande Dame - Veuve Clicquot vs Yayoi Kusama 2012
- EYE: This champagne adorns itself with an intense, luminous, and sparkling golden yellow robe. Its bubbles are fine and delicate.
- NOSE: The bouquet is rich and complex. Aromas of white-fleshed fruits such as pear and ripe peach blend harmoniously with notes of exotic fruits, citrus zest, and buttery brioche. Delicate floral touches enhance this enchanting olfactory experience.
- MOUTH: The attack is lively and fresh, giving way to a creamy and velvety texture. The effervescence is remarkable. Flavors of fruits unfold with elegance, accompanied by nuances of honey, toasted almonds, and spicy notes. Balanced acidity brings a delightful liveliness, while the persistent finish leaves a pleasant sensation of minerality in the mouth.
In short: This Grande Dame "Veuve Clicquot vs Yayoi Kusama" 2012 produced by the famous Maison Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin is an incredible collaboration between the champagne brand and the Japanese contemporary artist. This is a work of art that deserves to be tasted. It pairs wonderfully with refined dishes such as seafood, truffle-infused poultry, or dishes with exotic flavors. As for its aging potential, this champagne can be enjoyed now for its freshness, but it also has the potential to age for another 10 to 15 years under appropriate conditions.
Other appellations from this estate: Champagne Brut Carte Jaune, Champagne Extra Brut Extra Old, Champagne Rosé, Champagne Vintage Brut, Champagne Demi-sec, La Grande Dame, La Grande Dame par Paola Paronetto, La Grande Dame x Yayoi Kusama, Veuve Clicquot Rich, Veuve Clicquot Rich Rosé, Veuve Clicquot Arrow, Parcelle Clos Colin...
Data sheet
- Vintage
- 2012
- Format
- 75 cl
- Color
- White Wine
- Appellation
- Champagne
- Region
- Champagne
- Producer
- Maison Veuve Clicquot
- Packing
- Box
- Cuvée
- La Grande Dame
- CRD
- Yes
The "Grande Dame" of Champagne
Before there was a Champagne house, there was a woman: Barbe-Nicole Clicquot, daughter of Baron Ponce-Jean Nicolas Ponsardin. In 1805, after the sudden death of her husband François Clicquot, she inherited his wine estate. It was founded by François' father, Mr. Philippe Clicquot, in the 18th century. The family Champagne house unofficially produced sparkling wine since its creation in 1772, as Philippe chose not to sell his bottles (they were only for his personal consumption and gifted to friends and family). After a few years, he finally decided to sell his own brand-name Champagne and was outputting 100,000 bottles each year. He also designed the anchor logo, as a symbol of hope in the future.
Barbe-Nicole's strong personality and her impressive business acumen made it possible for her to successfully manage her husband's Champagne house, although she was only 27 years old at the time. The "Veuve Clicquot" (French for "Widow Clicquot") as she was nicknamed, fought against the selling of François' vineyard and came up with enough money to save the business from bankruptcy, in 1806. Later, she bought even more grand cru grapevines located in the Montagne de Reims region, bringing the total surface of her vineyard to almost 300 hectares. In doing so, she became one the leading businesswomen of the era.
In 1810, she innovated by creating the first vintage Champagne, which was completely unheard of at the time. Four years later, Barbe-Nicole's bottles could be found in Russian czars' cellars, as well as in the hands of many noblemen, from France and beyond. Nothing could stop the young woman's rise. She invented the riddling table, used to make clearer wines, in 1816. It was such a breakthrough that every other Champagne house of the region soon adopted it. This "Grande Dame" of Champagne also gave birth to the yellow label still present on every bottle. The design was officially patented in 1877, to fight against counterfeit champagnes.
Mrs. Clicquot died in 1866. That same year, the Champagne house could produce up to 750,000 bottles per year, sold in every European country. The widow Clicquot turned her husband's business into one of the biggest powerhouses of the Champagne region, as she invested in new technologies and improved production methods, without losing sight of what really mattered: quality. Despite going against some serious opponents during the 1930's, like Moët or Hennessy, Clicquot Ponsardin always came out on top, transcending Champagne to become the image of prestige itself.
In 1972, the Champagne house honored its founder by creating the "Veuve Clicquot Prize", only awarded to the best female business owners, as well as the "Grande Dame" cuvée. The LVMH Group (which owns some heavy hitters such as Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Krug, Ruinart, Glenmorangie, Ardbeg, Hennessy, Yquem, Esclans and many other famous estates) bought the Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin brand in 1987. Thanks to this buyout, the Champagne house left the Earth and now reaches for the stars.
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