Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2006《Terroir Collection - ZTF202》

🏅 Decanter 95 pts

🏅 Wine Advocate 94 pts

🏅 James Suckling 94 pts

🏅 Jancis Robinson 17.5 

Veuve Clicquot is one of the most famous producers of Champagne, selling well since its foundation in 1772. It invented its famous open-cell process, which removes dead yeast cells and gives the finished wine a clear appearance.

In 1814, at the end of the Napoleonic Wars and at the critical moment of the confrontation between Russia and France, Madame Veuve Clicquot decided to ship 10,550 bottles of 1811 champagne to Russia. One of the well-known brands, champagne is gradually in short supply, and Madame Veuve Clicquot is also honored as "the great lady of champagne"

The modern Veuve Clicquot Maison has one of the best Champagne vineyards, both in terms of its size and the quality of the vines. Its 390 hectares are divided between 12 of the 17 Grand Crus and 20 of the 44 First Growths that make up the entire Champagne region.

95% of Veuve Clicquot's vines are classified as Grands Crus or Premiers Crus, with the latter accounting for only a quarter of the total vine area in Champagne. The grape variety for each plot is determined by evaluating its soil, climate and exposure. The Veuve Clicquot vineyard is composed of 47% Chardonnay grapes, 36% Pinot Noir and 17% Pinot Meunier. Clicquot vines are mostly located on gentle slopes, allowing the vines to benefit from shallow soil and maximum exposure to sunlight.

🏅 Wine Advocate 94 pts

The prestigious 2006 La Grande Dame is made from 47% Chardonnay and 53% Pinot Noir, and assembles the fruit of eight grand cru villages. Very intense and complex on the nose, this is a full-bodied, round, rich and mouth-filling, but also refined prestige cuvée; it reveals a fascinating purity, precision and freshness. The finish is long and complex, and shows a spicy minerality. There are coffee beans, bread and toast aromas in the aftertaste. This comes highly recommended.

🏅 JamesSuckling 94pts

The Grande Dame is looking bright, gently complex and a little spicy in 2006 where the grapefruit citrus is a strong influence on the nose, showing sweet florals, a little honeyed nougat and almond paste. The palate's bright and crisp and really has an air of fleshy depth and refinement. There's also a great warm, toasty finish that displays grilled hazelnuts.