Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne, France
Founded in: 1772

A part of the Champagne's landscape for over two centuries, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin symbolizes the Art of Living to perfection. With a vineyard exceeding 280 hectares at the heart of the Champagne region's finest areas, Veuve Clicquot stayed true to its founder, Madame Clicquot's creed:  "only one quality, the best."French by origin, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin has nevertheless a resolutely international reach: it is a name in the world of champagne, whose universal values have made their mark across the world. The quality and excellence of its wines are twinned with increasingly innovative products.
The Champagne region is located at the northern limit to grow vine. Three main climatic factors (temperature, pluviometry and period of sunshine) favour vine growing and a good maturation of grapes. The exposure of Veuve Clicquot plots of land on the hillsides ensures a privileged microclimate and allows an ideal vine growing.

Finding a spirit, a pure line, creating a beautiful object from a wine of exceptional quality... these are the defining words of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin's creative research.
The harvest, entirely by hand Pressing, settling and treatment before fermentation
First fermentation, sometimes followed by malolactic fermentation. Drawing, Blending, Stabilizing by low temperature, Bottling , Second fermentation in the bottles.
Ageing on laths, remuage, disgorging, dosage , Corking, wiring, labelling.

Veuve Clicquot Vintage 1995 Like the three previous years, 1995 began with a mild and rainy winter. Budding occurred between 6 and 17 April, one week earlier than in previous years. There was frost at the end of April in the Marne and mid-May in the Aube but fortunately the House's vines were not damaged.

After a short colder spell, end of flowering was excellent thanks to hot, almost summery weather conditions. July was particularly hot and stormy, which accelerated the threat of mildew, a threat, which has never been stronger since 1958. The future harvest was saved thanks to an intelligent control strategy and constant attention.
Ripening was very rapid as the harvest approached and an attack of botrytis bunch rot was avoided.
The must was extremely well-balanced, and the 1995 vintage resembles 1988, with an average alcohol content of 9.5°GL and acidity of 9 g/l. This vintage will mature very well. Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 1995 is a pale gold-green colour with brilliant reflections that are typical of the vintage. Effervescence is delicate and extremely steady.The nose of Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame is exceptionally elegant. Dominant floral notes (mint and white flowers) mingle with hints of fresh fruit (citrus fruits, fresh almonds). As it undergoes aeration, riper notes of vanilla and nougat come to the fore, giving a pleasant roundness to the wine. At this stage a typical Chardonnay characteristic, crisp elegance, clearly prevails over aromatic strength.In the mouth, the Pinot Noir reveals its true personality. Fruity notes (white peaches, grapefruit and bergamot) dominate an energetic attack on the palate, which is prolonged by the structure and roundedness of the wine. The balance, a combination of freshness and vigour, is ideal. With a finish that is extremely persistent and clean, mineral notes add force to this noble wine.Although La Grande Dame is still a long way from its peak, this wine constitutes an apéritif of exception. True connoisseurs will arm themselves with patience and take great pleasure in drinking this champagne in a few years' time, once it has come to full cellar maturity.La Grande Dame 1995 is based on a blend of eight Grands Crus traditionally used for this wine. The blend is dominated by Pinot Noir grapes (62.5%) which come from Ay in the vallée de la Marne and Verzenay, Verzy, Ambonnay and Bouzy in the Montage de Reims. The Chardonnay grapes, (37.5%) come from vineyard plots in Avize, Oger, and Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs.Source  Veuve Clicquot