Founded in 1772, Veuve Clicquot is a House steeped in rich history that owes its success largely to one woman, Barbe-Nicole Clicquot-Ponsardin. Madame Clicquot also invented the riddling rack on her kitchen table, an apparatus that removes the sediment from the bottle after second fermentation still used in the region today. Veuve Clicquot own a respectable 382 hectares of vineyards with an emphasis on Pinot Noir. The House maintains the largest collection of old reserve wines in Champagne, these help give Yellow Label its complexity while ensuring the high quality is maintained in the world’s second bestselling Champagne brand. In 2008 Dominique Demarville joined as Cellar Master, he “refreshed the brand” including increasing the proportion of Pinot Noir in La Grande Dame to 90%+ and with blending shifts he brought a new freshness in Yellow Label. In 2019 Didier Mariotti took over as Cellar Master.
It all started with the exceptional nature of the 1810 harvest, which led Madame Clicquot to create a blend composed solely of the wines from the year. Once again, her extraordinary audacity was at work: at barely 30 years old, she developed the first-known vintage in Champagne. But there is more to this story. At the time, the wines were shipped without labels. Madame Clicquot, with her visionary spirit, tied a yellow ribbon around the neck of the vintage bottles to distinguish them from non-vintage wine. The “yellow ribbon” that she mentioned in her correspondence was born, and today still adorns the bottles of Veuve Clicquot Vintages, such as Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2012, as a tribute to Madame Clicquot. As with every Veuve Clicquot champagne, Pinot Noir dominates the blend (60%) exclusively from Grands and Premier Crus from the Montagne de Reims and the Vallée de la Marne (Verzy, Verzenay, Ludes, Ambonnay, Bouzy, Tauxières, Avenay and Aÿ). Then 7% of Meunier from the Montagne de Reims (Ludes) and the Vallée de la Marne (Dizy) brings roundness to this cuvée. The uniqueness of the Veuve Clicquot Vintage collection remains in the addition of wines aged in large oak casks, bringing strength and aromatic intensity. The dominance of Pinot Noir and the wooden touch deliver structure and character, trademark of the Veuve Clicquot’s style. This is the 63rd vintage since 1810 and a year where no prestige cuvee, La Grande Dame, was made allowing an even more wonderful wine choice for the blend.
Weather: The 2002 vintage shaped up ideally over the spring, with no significant frost and near-perfect flowering. Then followed a summer marked by long, sunny periods interspersed with regular cloudy and rainy spells. The vines were in good health and the dehydration of the grape berries helped them reach new heights of ripeness.
Technical Information:
Grape Varieties: 60% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay & 7 % Meunier
Lees Ageing: 18 years
Disgorged: November 2022
Dosage: 8 g/l
Drink: Now to 2035
Tasting Note: Gorgeous toasty nose with straw, cream, apple and gunpowder. Burgundian tones to it and lots of layers. Concentrated palate with fine acid line, fine velvety texture and long, juicy length. - Tasted by Essi Avellan MW
Founded in 1772, Veuve Clicquot is a House steeped in rich history that owes its success largely to one woman, Barbe-Nicole Clicquot-Ponsardin. Madame Clicquot also invented the riddling rack on her kitchen table, an apparatus that removes the sediment from the bottle after second fermentation still used in the region today. Veuve Clicquot own a respectable 382 hectares of vineyards with an emphasis on Pinot Noir. The House maintains the largest collection of old reserve wines in Champagne, these help give Yellow Label its complexity while ensuring the high quality is maintained in the world’s second bestselling Champagne brand. In 2008 Dominique Demarville joined as Cellar Master, he “refreshed the brand” including increasing the proportion of Pinot Noir in La Grande Dame to 90%+ and with blending shifts he brought a new freshness in Yellow Label. In 2019 Didier Mariotti took over as Cellar Master.
Privileged to a respectable 382-hectare estate with facilities to envy, Veuve Clicquot today run an immense operation in Reims. The House style is voluptuous and deeply fruity with a preference for Pinot Noir dominance. An unusually large proportion of old reserve wines give their non-vintage champagne nuances and depth not found elsewhere and their vintage expressions are deliciously ageing classics.
Cellar Master:
Didier Mariotti
Winery Location: Reims | Champagne, France
Champagne Region:
Montagne de Reims
Annual Production (bottles): Undisclosed
Chef de Cave History at Champagne Veuve Clicquot:
Didier Mariotti 2019 to current | Took over from Demarville and continues to oversee the winemaking process, ensuring Veuve Clicquot's signature style remains consistent
Dominique Demarville 2008 - 2019 | Joined Veuve Clicquot in 2008 and made significant contributions, including increasing the proportion of Pinot Noir in La Grande Dame and refreshing the Yellow Label style.
Jacques Péters 1979 - 2009 | Considered one of Veuve Clicquot's finest, known for his dedication, humility, and winemaking talent.
Chef de Cave History at Champagne Veuve Clicquot:
Didier Mariotti 2019 to current | Took over from Demarville and continues to oversee the winemaking process, ensuring Veuve Clicquot's signature style remains consistent
Dominique Demarville 2008 - 2019 | Joined Veuve Clicquot in 2008 and made significant contributions, including increasing the proportion of Pinot Noir in La Grande Dame and refreshing the Yellow Label style.
Jacques Péters 1979 - 2009 | Considered one of Veuve Clicquot's finest, known for his dedication, humility, and winemaking talent.