x
  • Country ranking ?

    848
  • Producer ranking ?

    7
  • Decanting time

    25min
  • When to drink

    now to 2035
  • Food Pairing

    Seafood, Salads & Consommes

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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The iconic Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama, sends a cheerful message to the whole world by imagining a unique, joyful and colorful creation specifically made for Veuve Clicquot. It is with its iconic symbols, that Yayoi Kusama adorns La Grande Dame 2012 case and bottle. The opulent flower symbolizes vital energy, love and celebration of life. The polka dots, Yayoi Kusama's signature patterns are reworked like champagne bubbles to embody La Grande Dame 2012.

Previously in 2006, Yayoi Kusama had already played with her famous polka dots by revivifying the original portrait of Madame Clicquot for a charity auction in Tokyo. So, the dialogue between the artist and the Maison has never stopped and has reached another milestone in its most inspiring and sharing ways. More than 150 years separate Madame Clicquot and Yayoi Kusama, and yet it is almost as many common points that unite their unique and fascinating destinies. From Yayoi Kusama’s work to Madame Clicquot’s development of the House of Veuve Clicquot, these two daring figures demonstrate strong and flawless commitment. And today, their destinies converge in an unparalleled collaboration.

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The Story

Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame is name in honour of the famed and undoubted Champagne pioneer, widow Clicquot. Widowed at the tender age of 28, Madame Clicquot continued her late husband's work and is the sole reason why her Champagne house is held in the high esteem that it is today. The 1998 La Grande Dame is a wine of pure beauty and power.

A majority blend of Pinot Noir, the vintage conditions are clearly visible in the glass with flavours of peach, apricot and touch of brioche and nuttiness. A true classic for the ages.

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Wine Information

The La Grande Dame 2012 is the 23rd Vintage of La Grande Dame, a showcase of the House’s excellence. It perfectly expresses the Maison’s love for Pinot Noir, which since the 2008 vintage, has represented over 90% of the blend. More than 150 years separate Madame Clicquot and Yayoi Kusama, and yet it is almost as many common points that unite their unique and fascinating destinies.

Fine and graceful, this dances across the palate with its bright, well-defined freshness and detailed flavors of Mandarin orange, toast point, crème de cassis and minerally oyster shell. Subtle in its intensity, with all the pieces seamlessly knit into an elegant whole. Disgorged September 2019. Drink now through 2030. - Wine Spectator, 95 points

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Vintage 2012

The next most exceptional vintage since 2008. A truly difficult growing season saw severe frosts in the winter. March brought warmth but early budbreak made the vines vulnerable to spring frosts. Overall, the early growing season was wet, and mildew became a serious issue. However, conditions improved dramatically in the later summer months. An August heatwave resulted in a rapid accumulation of sugar, but fortunately the nights remained cool, which helped to preserve acidity. Although yields were low (averaging at 9,210 kg/ha) due to frost, hail and disease early in the season, the 2012 harvest was exemplary in its maturity, acidity and grape health. A rare high acid, high sugar September harvest with impeccable concentration of flavour and refreshing vibrancy. Pinot Noir is the superstar of the vintage, though Pinot Meunier excelled too. A vintage that promises great longevity for the finest cuvées, it was widely declared by producers. However, Krug decided to invest in its reserve wines on this great year, and no Vintage was produced. The quality of 2012 is universally high, with the greatest releases so far including Louis Roederer Cristal and Cristal Rosé, Bollinger La Grande Année and La Grande Année Rosé, as well as Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé.

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Tasting note

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Written Notes

For me, the 2012 La Grande Dame is a special champagne. It walks the tightrope between dense and coiled power with delicacy, finesse, and elegance. Great intensity, finally balanced acidity, early complexity, and is still wonderfully youthful and with such a long future ahead of it. There is a brief, initial smoky note that morphs into raspberries, florals, jasmine, spices, hazelnuts, stone fruits, a hint of citrus, and even a whiff of mint and coconut husk. Great balance and such length. There really is little to suggest it is such a Pinot-dominant champagne. This can be cellared for ten to 20 years, longer in a good cellar, with confidence. A complete champagne. 97.  

  • 97p

Bright, straw yellow colour. Intense, smoky, apricot nose with some plummy notes. Dry, crisp , supple and round palate with buttery yellow fruit notes. Chalky minerality. Supple and round finish. – JL 94p. (3/2023)

  • 94p

Veuve Clicquot and iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama are sending the world a message of hope and optimism celebrating the House’s new vintage, La Grande Dame 2012.

It is with its iconic symbols, the flower and the polka dots, that Yayoi Kusama adorns La Grande 2012 case and bottle. The polka dots, Yayoi Kusama's signature patterns evoke the Champagne bubbles. Created in honor of Madame Clicquot called "La Grande Dame de Champagne” in her time, La Grande Dame perfectly expresses the Maison’s love for Pinot Noir. This 2012 is 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay.

Despite the modest harvest in 2012 in quantity, the quality was excellent convincing the Cellar Master to declare the 2012 vintage year and create a new edition of La Grand Dame.

  • 96p
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Information

Origin

Reims, Champagne

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Inside Information

Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored this 96 points saying "With a slight preponderance of Pinot Noir in the blend, this wine is rich and impressive. It is still young, with a crisp edge that makes the fruit shine. Apple and citrus flavors are integrated into a mineral vein. Drink from 2022."

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