Dominique Demarville (Maison Veuve Clicquot, Chef de Cave): “the Extra Brut Extra Old shows the essence of the Veuve Clicquot house, it’s made up of our most important values, which are the experience, heritage and innovation.”

The Veuve Clicquot house owns the largest amount of reserve wine, about 400 wines from 17 vintages, starting from 1988 and it regards this collection as the keeper of the Veuve Clicquot identity.  

This boldly new-style champagne, which is referred to as the essence of the legendary Yellow Label was created by Dominique Demarville, cellar master of Veuve Clicquot. The Extra Old Extra Brut was made solely from blending the reserve wines of six vintages, selected between 1988 and 2010: the vintages of 1988, 1996, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 were put into it. 

The proportion of the varieties is almost identical to what Madame Clicquot preferred at the beginning of the 1800s: 47% Pinot Noir, 27% Chardonnay and 26% Pinot Meunier. The base wine was aged for three years mostly in tanks, on fine lees (with about 5% in oak), then after bottling and the secondary fermentation, it was rested in the cellar for another three years before disgorging. The long and slow ageing gave it so much mellowness and lightness that only a very low dosage was added to it, of only 3 grams, which is the lowest in the house’s history. The new champagne remains true to the motto of Madame Clicquot: “we have only one quality, the finest”.

Intense aromas and flavours of plum, peach and spicy Meyer lemon, plus a touch of oak. Powerful and complex palate, rich flavours, silky texture, fresh minerality and the toasty notes, known as one the of trademarks of the Yellow Label, on the finish.  

Decanter: 95 points