Veuve Clicquot owns one of the largest stocks of reserve wines in Champagne: 400 wines from 17 vintages, dating back to 1988. Based on this collection, they blended this boldly different style of champagne. The Extra Brut Extra Old was made exclusively from reserve wines, blended from six vintages between 1988 and 2010, from years like 1988, 1996, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The proportion of varieties is almost identical to what Madame Clicquot preferred in the early 1800s: 47% Pinot Noir, 27% Chardonnay and 26% Pinot Meunier. The base wine was aged in tanks on fine lees for three years, then, after bottling and secondary fermentation, it rested in the cellar for another three years before being disgorged. The long, slow maturation gave so many flavours and layers to it, so just a very low dosage, of only 3 grams –- the lowest in the history of the house – was added after disgorging. 

Decanter: 95 points.

*limited availability, maximum 1 bottle/purchase