Not everyone knows that Madame Clicquot is responsible for the first Champagne Millésime vintage 1810, as well as the first Champagne Rosé in 1818. It is also Madame Clicquot who introduced the technique of remuage sur pupitres with the table de remuage. Celebrated as one of the first businesswomen of the modern times and for this reason praised as "La Grande Dame de la Champagne", it is to her that the Maison is inspired by with its Cuvée de Prestige "La Grande Dame".
La Grande Dame is the emblem of the Maison's winemaking tradition and excellent know-how that has been perpetuated for 250 years. She symbolizes the optimism, passion, perseverance, the intrepid courage of her ambitious founder who consecrated the fortune of the Maison since 1772.
Optimism and passion are the fundamental values that Veuve Clicquot perpetuates over the time and that today it finds in art and in its expressive creativity, for this reason it supports collaborations with international artists.
In 2020, Veuve Clicquot asked Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama to pay homage to the Maison and its founder with a personal interpretation of La Grande Dame. The result was a powerful message of hope and optimism, a joyful creation revived in the Maison's signature yellow colour. The artist's iconic symbols have been reproduced on the case and on the bottle of La Grande Dame 2012 adorned with a sumptuous flower that symbolizes life, with the distinctive polka dots that reproduce the bubbles of Champagne.
Similarly, also for the new Cuvée La Grande Dame 2015, the Maison collaborates with a talented artist, this time Paola Paronetto, to once again celebrate art and its creative freedom.
Paola Paronetto, Italian by birth, is placed on the international panorama of contemporary artistic ceramics. Her works, which are inspired by nature, have a remarkable visual impact and are handmade with an innovative technique that she has perfected over the years called "Paper Clay", or a particular mixture of paper and clay. Among her most important works, the "Cartocci" collection amazes with its ethereal, conscious and sustainable flavor.
Hence the idea of creating a collection of six coffrets for Veuve Clicquot signed by Paola Paronetto, with a range of colors chosen from some of the eighty-six hues created by the artist. The goal is to convey positivity, joy and a message of optimism and hope, in this particularly hostile historical moment.
The coffret is eco-friendly and is made with 60% hemp, 20% cotton and 20% other plants, in line with the Maison's commitment to environmental sustainability.
Just as the artist's skill lies in creating unique and exclusive works, in the same way the Chef de Cave plays a fundamental role in the success of Veuve Clicquot Cuvées: his signature lies in respecting the Maison's savoir-faire and in preserving a style of excellence that makes these Champagnes great.
Structure and verticality are the hallmarks of La Grande Dame 2015 where Pinot Noir represents over 90% of the blend, in accordance with what Madame Clicquot stated: "Our black grapes give the most refined white wines". The glorious Pinot Noir is accompanied by a touch of Chardonnay, both from the historical and prestigious Grands Crus of the Maison: Verzenay, Verzy, Ambonnay, Bouzy, Ay, Avize, Oger, Mesnil-Sur-Oger.
La Grande Dame 2015 is the result of an exceptional 2015 harvest which returned concentrated and structured wines. Tension, elegance and precision are perfectly represented by the tasting notes which reveal the complexity of this Millésime “solaire”: fresh notes of white pepper, ginger and citrus peel, together with a chalky minerality, reveal delicate floral notes of acacia, jasmine, lilac and white fruits. On the palate the texture is delicate and silky. A rich wine with exceptional aging potential of over fifteen years.
La Grande Dame 2015 is the 24th Millésime since 1972, the year in which Veuve Clicquot presented its first Cuvée de Prestige to celebrate the Maison's bicentenary.