Pale gold-yellow color; pear, lemon, white peach, grapefruit, crisp apple, brioche, vanilla, butter, almond, white flowers on the nose and palate.
Brut (9-10 g/L); slight, silky tannins; brisk acidity (3.4 pH; 5.4 g/L TA). Light body. Creamy texture with small, lively bubbles. Crisp, fresh, consistent quality for well more than a century. Blend of approximately 50% pinot noir, 30% chardonnay, 20% pinot meunier (with up to 40% reserve wine aged up to 15 years, exact percentages of grapes are not possible). Pinot noir supplies structure, chardonnay finesse and elegance, pinot meunier softens and rounds out the assemblage and fills some mid-palate gaps. This is classic Champagne trio of grapes working in harmony. 12.5% ABV
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label Brut Champagne is one of the most celebrated and recognizable premier Champagnes. The yellow label—some would contend it is yellow-orange—signals consistency and quality at an affordable price (for quality Champagne). Grapes are sourced from 50-60 different crus, with only the first pressed fruit used. There is minimum aging of 30 months on fine lees, which creates complexity and a fuller, creamier mouthfeel, a signature element of Veuve Clicquot for two centuries.
Veuve Clicquot owns almost 1,000 acres, making it one of the largest estates in Champagne. An exceptional 95% of those vineyards are Grands Crus or Premiers Crus, In contrast, only 25% of the entire Champagne region are so classified. Veuve Clicquot has 12 of the 17 Grands Crus communes and 20 of the 44 Premiers Crus communes. The vineyards have been 100% herbicide-free since 2018, ISO 14001 certified since 2004, held Viticulture Durable en Champagne since 2014. They are have 100% organic soil nitrogen management and have undergone comprehensive carbon footprint assessments since 2002.
Veuve Clicquot’s story is inspirational. In a male-dominated society and industry, she revolutionized Champagne after inheriting the estate after the death of her husband in 1805. “Veuve” is French for widow. She created the first vintage Champagne in 1810, invented the riddling table in 1816, and developed the first blended rosé Champagne using the assemblage method in 1818. She was a courageous, risk-taking businesswoman who experienced impressive success—at the time of her death at age 89 her annual wine sales exceeded 750,000 bottles, and she was hailed as “the grande dame of Champagne.” Link to Veuve Clicquot column
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label Brut Champagne NV is the house’s signature wine; consistently delivering freshness, strength, creamy mouthfeel, a symphony of fruit from some of the top vineyards in Champagne. One of the most affordable premium, elite Champagne pours. Often less expensive than peers Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial, Louis Roederer Brut Premier, and Pol Roger Brut Réserve. More than holds its own against them in professional tastings. In addition, several critics note significant improvements in recent years. As a bonus, this is widely available from fine wine shops to supermarkets, Costco, and Sam’s Club. $45-74
Pairing–Enjoy it all by itself because you deserve it. Famous as a toasting wine, especially at an upscale event, and as an aperitif. Appetizers—lobster roll, smoked salmon blinis with crème fraîche and dill. Works with seafood and fish—oysters are classic, smoked salmon, Dover sole meunière, scallops sautéed in butter, tuna tartare. Roast chicken with lemon and thyme, fried chicken, duck, white meat in general. Cheese—gruyère, comté, aged parmesan, parmigiano-reggiano, manchego; brie, camembert, chaource, brillat-savarin; young goat cheeses.
