Veuve Clicquot Vintage Reserve 2008

New to this 2008 Vintage: 5% of the wines were produced and aged in wooden casks from forests in Central France, from Allier and Vosges. This was to increase the complexity and aromatic richness of our Vintages, our gourmet wines. These cask-aged wines constitute the spices of the blend. Their aromas are very lightly woody, vanilla with toasted aromas.

Weather: 2008 was dominated by grey, overcast skies – an exception in a decade characterized by bold, generous sunshine. Spring and summer rought the same lack of sunlight and absence of high temperatures. It was September that saved the vintage, belatedly and miraculously. Just when the harvest was getting underway (on September 15), the weather conditions were finally perfect: blue skies and prolonged north-northeasterly winds. Picking was spread out over a long period in order to benefit from this positive turn of events. The grapes were riper than anyone dared hope, and had truly outstanding balance. The vines were in perfect health.

Technical Information:
Grape Varieties: 61% Pinot Noir, 34% Chardonnay, 5% Meunier
Ageing: 8 years on the lees
Dosage: 8 g/l
Drink: Now to 2030

Tasting Note: This has a fine bead of bubbles present with a golden yellow colour. On the nose: white fruits and nicely balanced citrus notes. On the palate: the Pinot Noir dominance shines through but is balanced perfectly by the delicate Chardonnay. Ripe fruits and some hints of brioche on the finish. A great non-vintage.

Founded in 1772, Veuve Clicquot is a House steeped in rich history that owes its success largely to one woman. When Barbe-Nicole Clicquot-Ponsardin was widowed in 1805 at the age of just twenty-seven, she boldly took over sole management of the business and changed the future of Champagne forever. Displaying serious business acumen early in her tenure, decisions such as defying the blockade during the Napoleonic Wars and secretly shipping champagne to Russia gave Veuve Clicquot a significant lead over other Houses post-war. Madame Clicquot also invented the riddling rack at her kitchen table - an apparatus that removes the sediment from the bottle after second fermentation still used in the region today.

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. Industry genius, Didier Mariotti has been ensuring Veuve Clicquot's continued success as Cellar Master since 2008.

Cellar Master: Didier Mariotti
Winery Location: Reims | Champagne, France
Champagne Region: Montagne de Reims
Annual Production (bottles): Undisclosed