Andre Clouet Brut Grande Reserve

André Clouet Brut Grande Réserve is a non-vintage Grand Cru Champagne made from 100% Pinot Noir, bottled at 12% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Rated 93 points by James Suckling and 92 points by both Decanter and Tyson Stelzer's The Champagne Guide, this Blanc de Noirs from Bouzy consistently punches above its weight class among grower Champagnes.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12%  |  Origin: Bouzy, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France  |  Non-Vintage (Multi-Vintage Reserve Blend)  |  Producer: André Clouet

Production & Heritage

André Clouet is a small grower-producer based in Bouzy, one of Champagne's most prized Grand Cru villages on the Montagne de Reims, renowned for its Pinot Noir. The Grande Réserve is composed of approximately 70% wine from the current vintage blended with 30% reserve wines aged two to five years in tank, drawing from multiple older vintages to build complexity. Fruit is sourced exclusively from Grand Cru vineyards in Bouzy and Ambonnay, and the finished wine receives a dosage of 8 grams per liter — moderate enough to let the Pinot Noir's structure and mineral character lead. This multi-vintage blending strategy, incorporating reserves stretching back several years, distinguishes the Grande Réserve from many non-vintage cuvées that rely primarily on a single base year.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with candied citrus and ripe pear before unfolding into brioche, hazelnut, and dried flower notes. Beneath the fruit sits a persistent minerality — wet stone and bread dough — that signals the Grand Cru terroir of Bouzy.

Taste: The palate entry is fresh and creamy, carried by a refined, subtle mousse. Mid-palate, layers of yellow apple and apricot fruit develop alongside spice and toast, framed by a silky, medium-weight texture. The 100% Pinot Noir composition gives it a vinous depth uncommon in this price tier, with mineral-infused red fruit emerging at the peak.

Finish: The finish is generous in length, leaving traces of lemon zest, toasted hazelnut, and chalky minerality. It closes dry and precise, the dosage integrating seamlessly rather than masking the wine's structure.

How to Drink Grande Réserve

This Champagne is best served chilled to around 8–10°C in a tulip-shaped glass, which focuses its aromatic complexity better than a traditional flute. It drinks beautifully on its own as an apéritif, but the Pinot Noir weight makes it versatile at the table. A French 75 works exceptionally well here, where the wine's brioche and citrus character complement the gin and lemon. In a Champagne Cocktail (sugar cube, Angostura, lemon twist), the Grande Réserve's mineral backbone holds up against the bitters without losing definition. For a simpler serve, a Kir Royale with a small measure of crème de cassis plays off the Pinot Noir's inherent red-fruit depth.

Best For

• Hosting a dinner party where the Champagne needs to stand up to a full meal, not just the first course
• Gifting a wine enthusiast who appreciates grower Champagne over large-house labels
• Celebrating milestones — anniversaries, promotions, or New Year's — with a Grand Cru that delivers without excess pomp
• Building a Champagne collection that explores single-varietal cuvées and terroir-driven styles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Grande Réserve taste like? It leads with ripe pear, yellow apple, and candied citrus layered over brioche and toasted hazelnut, with a chalky mineral thread running throughout. The mousse is fine and creamy, and the overall profile is fresh yet vinous — distinctly Pinot Noir in character.

How does Grande Réserve compare to Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs? Both are 100% Pinot Noir Grand Cru Champagnes from the Montagne de Reims, but Egly-Ouriet's Blanc de Noirs Les Crayères is a significantly more limited and higher-priced bottling with extended aging. André Clouet's Grande Réserve positions as a more accessible entry into Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs while still delivering serious depth from its multi-vintage reserve blend.

Is Grande Réserve good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its refined mousse, balanced dosage of 8g/L, and layered aromatics make it an excellent standalone pour. The Pinot Noir weight also gives it enough structure to pair with food, so it adapts well beyond apéritif service.

Where is Grande Réserve made? It is produced by André Clouet in the village of Bouzy, a Grand Cru commune on the Montagne de Reims in the Champagne region of northeastern France. Grapes are sourced from Grand Cru vineyards in both Bouzy and neighboring Ambonnay.

What foods pair well with Grande Réserve? Smoked salmon or gravlax, where the wine's citrus and minerality cut through the richness. Roasted chicken or guinea fowl, which match its medium weight and toasty notes. Aged Comté or Gruyère, where nutty cheese echoes the hazelnut aromas. Sushi and sashimi — the fine mousse and acidity cleanse the palate between bites. Mushroom risotto, which mirrors the wine's earthy, bread-dough undertones.

What sizes does Grande Réserve come in? The standard bottling is 750ml, and André Clouet also produces this cuvée in magnums (1.5L), which benefit from slower aging and are well suited for larger gatherings.

Is Grande Réserve worth the price? It positions as a mid-range grower Champagne that delivers Grand Cru fruit and multi-vintage complexity typically associated with more expensive bottles. With consistent scores in the 91–93 point range from major critics, it represents strong value within the Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs category.

Why Grande Réserve?

In a market crowded with non-vintage Champagnes built largely from Chardonnay or blends, André Clouet's Grande Réserve stands apart as a pure Pinot Noir expression from two of Champagne's finest Grand Cru villages. The multi-vintage reserve program — incorporating wines spanning several years — gives the blend a layered complexity that single-vintage-dominant NV cuvées often lack. Consistent critical recognition, including 93 points from James Suckling and 92 from Decanter, confirms that this is not simply a novelty but a genuinely well-made wine. For anyone seeking a grower Champagne with real terroir character and the vinous depth that only Grand Cru Pinot Noir provides, this bottling earns its place on the shortlist.