The estate
Today, Veuve Clicquot has become a brand with worldwide success. The Veuve Clicquot myth was created thanks to a woman: Madame Clicquot. It was in 1798 that François Clicquot married the daughter of Baron Nicolas Ponsardin. Son of the founder of the Clicquot Champagne House, he passed on all of his passion to his wife, initiating her into the secrets of champagne-making. When her husband passes away prematurely, at the age of 27, she took over the running of the Veuve Clicquot Champagne House with determination. Guided by an innate sense of innovation and a perpetual quest for perfection, she invented the riddling table and marketed the first blended rosé champagne. Veuve Clicquot has turned this uncompromising requirement into her motto: "Only one quality, the finest".
The vineyard
Comprising 390 hectares of land, Veuve Clicquot has one of the largest vineyards in Champagne. This vineyard boasts an exceptional quality, as it is spread over 12 out of the 17 Grands Crus and 20 out of the 44 Premiers Crus of the Champagne region.
The blend
Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2008 comprises a blend of 61% Pinot Noir, 34% Chardonnay and 5% Pinot Meunier.
The tasting
Colour
The colour is a bright, light gold, with very fine and persistent bubbles.
Nose
The nose is incredibly fresh, refined and elegant. Fragrances of citrus fruit, peaches and apricots mingle with aromas of almonds and mirabelle plum tarts.
Palate
Lively and very pure, the mouth gradually reveals all its power and delicate structure. The generosity of the fruit and the freshness of the citrus fruits blend perfectly and lead to subtle notes of toast and dried fruit on the finish. A powerful, fresh, delicate wine with an incredible length.
Assembling 35% Chardonnay, 5% Meunier and 60% Pinot Noir, the 2008 Vintage Brut is one of the rare vintage Champagnes of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin and it follows the earlier releases of 1999, 2004 and 2012. Disgorged in March 2015 with eight grams dosage, the bright colored 2008 has a very clear, fresh, pure and intense, as well as complex nose, with brioche, biscuit and prominent Chardonnay aromas. Pure, dry, straight and elegant on the palate, this is a refreshing and lifted, but also complex and expressive Brut. It also has tension, grip and a stimulating salinity in the finish. This Champagne is excellent and should be served with seafood.