Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin la Grande Dame 1996

I usually was not too crazy about La Grande Dame : too tasty, too woody, but this bottle of La Grande Dame 1996, drank more than 10 years after the harvest makes its point.

Smooth, delicate, flowery with lightness but taste, it's a perfect aperitif to be enjoyed with good company. Nevertheless, I recommend trying to use sommelier Champagne glasses, to let this great champagne reveal to the senses all its promises...

September 2007

Rating: 95(+?) - As reviewed by International Wine Cellar in Issue 117, November/December 2004 ($160) Deep, highly complex aromas of citrus skin, nutmeg, porcini mushroom, toasted almond and clove. Rich, dry and impressively deep; superconcentrated and oily. A chewy, spicy Champagne that seemed to grow fresher as it opened in the glass. Really explosive on the aftertaste, finishing with a clinging quality and powerful spicy, nutty flavors. A major mouthful of Champagne, at its best at the dinner table. Displays the combination of high ripeness and high acidity of this vintage at its best. This thick, rich, very powerful wine is still a bit youthfully disorganized and will be even better read more...for a few years of additional aging. One of the standouts of my recent tastings.    (hide)

La Grande Dame 1996 is a pale gold-green color with brilliant reflections that are typical of the vintage. Effervescence is delicate and extremely steady. On the nose this wine is exceptionally elegant. Dominant floral notes (mint and white flowers) mingle with hints of fresh fruit (citrus fruits, fresh almonds). As it undergoes aeration, riper notes of vanilla and nougat come to the fore, giving a pleasant roundness to the wine. At this stage a typical Chardonnay characteristic, crisp elegance, clearly prevails over aromatic strength. In the mouth, the Pinot Noir reveals its true personality. read more... Fruity notes (white peaches, grapefruit and bergamot) dominate an energetic attack on the palate, which is prolonged by the structure and roundedness of the wine. The balance, a combination of freshness and vigour, is ideal. With a finish that is extremely persistent and clean, mineral notes add force to this noble wine. La Grande Dame 1996 is based on a blend of eight Grands Crus traditionally used for this wine. The blend is dominated by Pinot Noir grapes (62.5%), which come from Ay in the vallee De la Marne, and Verzenay, Verzy, Ambonnay and Bouzy in the Montage de Reims. The Chardonnay grapes, (37.5%) come from vineyard plots in Avize, Oger, and Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Cote des Blancs. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VINTAGE: 1995 began with a mild winter and budburst occurred during the second week of April. After a short cold spell, the flowering was excellent, due to hot, almost summer-like weather. Ripening was very rapid and picking began on September 21st.    (hide)

Some yeast, soft and well aged. Excellent balance. Delicately floral with an extended finish. Absolutely delicious. Tasted at the New York Wine Experience

October 2007

Great

September 2007

wonderfully crisp, clear, and dry. deep yet penetrating taste and finish, it's flavor has matured well and softened in its fruitiness, leaving a more nutty and grassy hint to it. excellent champagne.

September 2009