1998 Veuve Clicquot "La Grande Dame"

[Drew]

Served this with dinner last night with Crab Cakes, heirloom tomatoes, mixed salad with homemade lemon vinegarette, asparagus and homemade French fries. Delicious dinner and very nice Champagne which pared very well. This wine was a gift and I know NOTHING about Champagne and have really only enjoyed nothing more expensive than a fifty dollar bottle so take this note with a grain of sand. Very fine bead. Flavors of lemon curd and citrus with hints of biscuit. More concentrated flavors and a longer finish than other, lesser $, Champagnes that we've had, however, not worth the tariff if I'm buying but am always open to gifts! [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

Drew

[winoweenie]

WHATTA GUY!!!!!!!vb

[wondersofwine]

I think I've only sampled La Grande Dame once and did find it much tastier than the non-vintage Veuve Cliquot but I don't spend that much on sparkling wines either.

[Bucko]

I've only had one Champagne where I'd go crazy with $$$$:

1996 Krug, Brut Champagne, France, $300. This is perfection in a bottle. If price is no object over the holidays, don't miss out on this experience. You'll find an enchanting bouquet of honeycomb, ginger, leesy/doughy notes, hazelnuts, smoke and spice. Perfectly balanced, with nice minerality, the wine is powerful while maintaining a sense of grace. Still in its youth, this will be drinking well for the next quarter of a century; 100/100.

[wdonovan]

Funny my take is the opposite. I think QPR on La Grande Dame is generally higher than Krug. That's not hard to conclude in that Krug costs twice as much as the Grande Dame so it better be real good. Still have a couple 96 LGD's waiting for a couple excuses. We're on Prosecco now during the summer heat.

BTW We are not fans of VC NV either but... their Vintage REserve at half the price of LGD is a bargain "baby Grande Dame".

[hotwine]

We have a '90 LGD tucked away in the cellar. In no hurry for it. Have only had the '89 previously, and thought it very nice but not stellar. Taittinger NV remains our go-to champers.

[Bucko]

You'll be hard pressed to beat Lenoble for a less than $35 bottle of NV Champagne, be it the Brut Nature or Brut Intense or Blanc de Blanc.