Tasting of Veuve Cliquot

[TheEngineer]

Had an opportunity to taste with Dominique Demarville, the Chef de Caves of Veuve Cliquot so jumped at that! He presented a five wine lineup.

NV VC Ponsardin; Lively nose, dense so immediately thought that this would be PN dominant, which apparently was true, noses toast, of apple, citrus, citrus peel, good acidity and nice density of flavors. Medium finish.

NV VC Ponsardin Rose: amazing what a little red wine does.....12% red wine added to the above, the red wine itself a mix of 87% PN and 13% Pinot Meuiner. Nose of strawberries, raspberries, more floral, taste of much the same with toast. Slightly more elegant but less acidity so softer wine.

2002 Veuve Cliquot: Woh..this is quite the step up. Noise is explosive, much larger wine here. Nose of toast, Briooche, nuts and baked apple. On the palate, the density of flavors is very high, but balanced by an equally aggressive structure, keeping things fresh. I like this.

2004 VC Rose: Again the addition of 12% red wine to the vintage wine, currant, blueberries, raspberries, toast, creamy texture more evident here. Lovely stuff especially for the price..while high, not particularly so for a vintage rose. A bit more softer and elegant than the 2002.

1998 La Grande Dame: My fav wine of the night of course. Exposeive nose of brioche, toast, peach, wow, the density of this wine is amazing, structure is not as forward as the 02, most likely meaning that this will not be a long term LGD. Drinking very well now, night get a bit more elegance with a bit more time but why wait......