Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2018

Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2018 is the prestige cuvée of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, a 750ml Grand Cru Champagne bottled at 12.5% ABV. Awarded 97 points by Decanter (Natalie Earl) and 95 points by Wine Spectator, this vintage represents one of the most critically acclaimed releases in the La Grande Dame lineage.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12.5%  |  Origin: Champagne, France  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Producer: Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin  |  100% Grand Cru

Production & Heritage

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin traces its roots to 1772 in Reims, with Madame Clicquot — the "Grande Dame" herself — famously inventing the riddling table (pupitre) in 1816, a technique now fundamental to Champagne production worldwide. The 2018 vintage is composed of 90% Pinot Noir sourced from the Grand Cru villages of Ambonnay, Aÿ, Bouzy, Verzenay, and Verzy, with 10% Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Vinified using méthode traditionnelle, the wine spent five years aging on its lees before being disgorged in February 2024 with a dosage of 6 g/l — resulting in a cuvée that balances generosity with precision.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The bouquet opens with delicate white flowers — jasmine and honeysuckle — layered over yuzu zest, fresh pear, and lemon oil. Beneath the florals, notes of verbena, quince, and fresh almond emerge alongside subtle honey.

Taste: The entry is vibrant and silky, leading with citrus and green apple before the mid-palate fills with patisserie pear, almond biscotti, and spun honey. At its peak, candied orange rind, pickled ginger, and coconut cream add richness, while a saline minerality threads through the entire palate and keeps the wine taut.

Finish: The finish is long and precise, marked by a chalky, almost oyster-shell texture and lingering citrus brightness. Subtle smoke and anise linger well after the final sip, revealing the depth five years on lees can achieve.

How to Drink La Grande Dame 2018

Serve chilled to around 10–12°C in a tulip-shaped glass to allow the complex aromatics to develop fully; this is a cuvée built for attentive sipping without any additions. A French 75 made with La Grande Dame elevates the cocktail into luxury territory, its citrus-forward profile harmonizing with gin and lemon. A Champagne Cocktail (sugar cube, Angostura, lemon twist) plays against the wine's honeyed richness. For a lighter aperitif serve, a Kir Royale with a restrained pour of blackcurrant liqueur complements the Pinot Noir backbone without masking it.

Best For

• Celebrating a milestone anniversary or career achievement
• Gifting a serious Champagne collector or wine enthusiast
• Hosting an intimate multi-course dinner with a showpiece aperitif
• Adding a flagship vintage to a prestige cuvée cellar

Frequently Asked Questions

What does La Grande Dame 2018 taste like? It leads with vibrant citrus and white flowers, building into almond biscotti, honeyed pear, and candied orange rind over a persistent mineral backbone. The finish is long, chalky, and precisely structured with lingering citrus brightness.

How does La Grande Dame 2018 compare to Dom Pérignon? La Grande Dame 2018 is Pinot Noir-dominant at 90%, giving it a broader, more fruit-driven and textural profile, while Dom Pérignon typically blends roughly equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for a more linear, tension-driven style. Both are prestige cuvées sourced from Grand Cru vineyards, but La Grande Dame's heavier Pinot Noir weighting and 6 g/l dosage deliver more immediate richness on the palate.

Is La Grande Dame 2018 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — five years of lees aging and 100% Grand Cru fruit give this cuvée the complexity and structure to reward slow, contemplative sipping without any garnish or dilution.

Where is La Grande Dame 2018 made? La Grande Dame 2018 is produced by Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, headquartered in Reims in the Champagne region of France. The grapes are sourced exclusively from Grand Cru vineyards across Ambonnay, Aÿ, Bouzy, Verzenay, Verzy, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.

What foods pair well with La Grande Dame 2018? Freshly shucked oysters complement the wine's saline minerality. Seared scallops with beurre blanc mirror its buttery richness. Aged Comté cheese echoes the nutty, biscotti-like notes. Lobster thermidor matches the textural weight of the Pinot Noir base. Lemon tart plays into the citrus brightness on the finish.

What sizes does La Grande Dame 2018 come in? La Grande Dame 2018 is available in the standard 750ml bottle, and select markets may carry a 1.5L magnum format.

Is La Grande Dame 2018 worth the price? La Grande Dame positions squarely in the ultra-premium prestige cuvée tier alongside Dom Pérignon and Cristal, and the 2018 vintage's critical acclaim — including 97 points from Decanter — supports its standing as a top-value selection within that elite category.

Why La Grande Dame 2018?

The 2018 vintage earned 97 points from both Decanter and The Tasting Panel, placing it among the most lauded prestige Champagnes of the vintage. Its 90% Pinot Noir composition from five Grand Cru villages gives La Grande Dame a distinctive identity in a category where many competitors lean on more even Pinot Noir–Chardonnay splits. Five years of lees aging followed by a February 2024 disgorgement means bottles reaching the market now are at an early but rewarding drinking window with significant aging potential ahead. For collectors and enthusiasts who value Pinot Noir-driven power balanced by Grand Cru minerality, this is one of the defining Champagnes of 2018.